Dictators and Rebellious Civilians

Bibliographic Data

ID6323263
AuthorsAndras Bozoki (0000-0002-1086-6209, Central European University, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume11
Issue3
Pages841-851
Publication date2013-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePerspectives on Politics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1537-5927 • E-ISSN: 1541-0986
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1537592713002053
OpenAlexW2067400826
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited16

Thanks to research conducted in the past few years, our understanding has been significantly expanded concerning democracy and authoritarian regimes, as well as the means of both destroying and rebuilding democratic institutions. While there is a clear link between a developed economy and democracy, the relationship is not self-evident in all cases. Also, economic growth is not conducive to the development of democracy under all circumstances, especially when the distribution of wealth is not considered fair by all citizens. In and of itself an election, even a competitive one—long considered a democratic minimum—does not guarantee the survival of a democracy, as strongmen have learned how to run an authoritarian system behind an electoral veil. The majority of autocratic leaders use the concept of democracy as a screen for building a political regime antithetical to the spirit and practice of a real democracy. Autocrats adopt a number of democratic institutions only to subvert their original purposes. While they pose as democrats, instead of a liberal democracy they initially organize amajoritariandemocracy, followed by anilliberaldemocracy that ignores human rights. This is but one step away from an autocratic turning point, the rejection of all democratic principles. “Potemkin democracies” may even hold (limited) open elections organized so that the outcome will not threaten the foundations of the existing regime

Authoritarianism · Autocracy · Democracy · Economic system · Economics · Law and economics · Liberal democracy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Representative democracy · Sociology · Law · Political Conflict and Governance