Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction

Abstract Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This book provides a clear and engaging introduction to the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It asks why authoritarian regimes are born, why they sometimes die, and what legacies they leave behind. It shows that while many authoritarian regimes broke down in the final decades of the 20th century, about half of all countries remained authoritarian. Drawing on wide-ranging examples including Argentina, China, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, the book asks what citizens can do to prevent their countries from sliding into authoritarianism—and what can be done once those regimes are in place. It also considers the disturbing fact that voters in many new democracies use their newfound rights to send former authoritarian officials back to power.