Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It examines how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. James Loxton explains the ＂life cycle＂ of authoritarian regimes: from democratic breakdown, to challenges that authoritarian regimes face, and how changes in the international environment and the decisions of the democratic opposition can encourage authoritarian regimes to give up power. The author also asks why some authoritarian regimes are more durable than others, and what kinds of legacies authoritarian regimes may leave behind after a transition to democracy.

This Very Short Introduction shows how factors such as natural resource wealth, origins in violent revolution, and cross-border collaboration can contribute to authoritarian durability. It ends by looking at the disturbing fact that voters in many new democracies use their newfound rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.

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James Loxton, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

James Loxton is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Sydney. He is the award-winning author of Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle (2021) and co-editor of Life after Dictatorship: Authoritarian Successor Parties Worldwide (2018). He holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University.