Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly?

This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including:

• Military regimes
• Single-party regimes
• Personalist regimes

It explores how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time and examines the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections.

Key Insights Covered:

• The life cycle of authoritarian regimes:
  • How are they born?
  • What challenges do they face during life?
  • Why do they die?
• Factors contributing to authoritarian durability, such as:
  • Natural resource wealth
  • Cross-border collaboration

Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton sheds light on these regimes' complexities.

Finally, the author highlights a disturbing reality: even when authoritarian regimes collapse, voters often use their newfound democratic rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.