With the Berlin Wall down and the Cold War over, many countries have completed or are in the process of completing their transition from authoritarian regimes to democratic forms of government. Some have slid back into authoritarianism, however, and others are at risk of doing so. Jackson School professor Jennifer Gandhi is leading a project to understand how autocracies manifest and thrive, using clear patterns and insights to help organizers, bridge-builders and ordinary citizens isolate the real dangers to democracy from political hyperbole and sensational spin.
Authoritarian Rule
Autocratic regimes are typically characterized by dictatorship and a lack of checks and balances. The judiciary, legislature and military take orders directly from the dictator, while civil society organizations and the media are targeted for repression and distortion. These efforts are usually used to inflame feelings of insecurity, which offer cover for restrictions on freedoms and an excuse for increasing coercive measures.
Corrupting Elections
21st century autocrats often maintain the façade of elections while skewing rules and tilting the playing field in their favor. They also target universities, nongovernmental organizations and the media to blunt criticism and stifle dissent.
Stoking Violence
Most autocratic leaders deliberately look the other way or actively inflame politically useful violence to stoke fears and feelings of insecurity. This not only advances the authoritarian playbook of quashing dissent and inflating the role of coercive security forces, but it can also serve to justify further attacks on civil liberties and deepen social divisions.
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