Autocratic Regimes Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary reason for the durability of rebel regimes?

Frequent replacements of military leadership

Isolation from competing insurgent groups

Delegation of power during armed struggles (correct)

Independence from military support

What dilemma do dictators face regarding military control?

Sharing power always leads to stronger regimes

Generals may take over if power is shared (correct)

Keeping all military power leads to less stability

They can never trust their generals

Which type of regime is more vulnerable to the guardianship dilemma?

Rebel Regimes

Civilian Regimes (correct)

Coup Regimes

Military Regimes

According to Boix and Svolik, which factor is crucial for the stability of limited authoritarian government?

Shared power through institutional arrangements Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of rebel regimes after they gain power?

Established power-sharing agreements Signup and view all the answers

What typically occurs with the appointment of a minister of defence in rebel regimes?

It indicates a lack of trust in military leaders Signup and view all the answers

Why are institutions important in dictatorships according to Boix and Svolik?

They help to maximize resource extraction Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of coup regimes?

Often rely on quick mobilization Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when dictators accumulate too much power?

Institutions can become less effective Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of establishing legislatures in a dictatorship?

Decrease in the number of coups Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary motivation of authoritarian rulers compared to democratic leaders?

To pursue goals with fewer constraints Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of oligarchs in an autocratic regime like Putin's?

They drive economic growth while being kept checked by the leader. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the selectorate theory regarding political survival in autocracies?

Political power is better assured by depending on a few individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is one challenge facing authoritarian regimes in understanding their population?

Accurate information about public preferences is hard to gather. Signup and view all the answers

How do autocratic leaders typically ensure loyalty from members of their winning coalition?

Through private rents that create strong loyalty. Signup and view all the answers

In the selectorate framework, which group is essential for an incumbent leader to maintain power?

The winning coalition (W) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to dictators when the size of their winning coalition (W) increases?

Maintaining loyalty becomes more challenging. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the size of the winning coalition (W) and public goods provision?

Public goods provision initially decreases with larger W but later increases. Signup and view all the answers

What type of information can pose a challenge to a dictator's authority?

Accurate representation of public preferences Signup and view all the answers

In the context of autocracies, what does the Guardianship Dilemma refer to?

The difficulty of a leader protecting their position while maintaining support. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common outcome of private rents being distributed to coalition members?

They reinforce loyalty and compliance among coalition members. Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication for welfare when the winning coalition (W) increases?

Public goods and taxes can better compensate for decreased private rents. Signup and view all the answers

What do autocratic rulers primarily use censorship and propaganda for?

To control population behavior and preferences. Signup and view all the answers

What is a method that authoritarian leaders use to prevent rebellion?

Restricting information dissemination about public sentiments. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Autocratic Regimes: Power, Compliance, and Stability

Autocratic leaders face challenges in maintaining power, requiring compliance from allies (oligarchs) and the broader population.
Data collection for autocratic regimes is difficult due to limited access and potential accuracy issues, making empirical work challenging.
Autocrats have less constraint than democratic leaders, using extensive means to achieve objectives (e.g., censorship, propaganda, coercion).
Key issues for autocrats involve managing their close allies to prevent challenges to their authority and ensuring public compliance.
Dictators sometimes use publicized arrests and potential legal actions to maintain control over oligarchs.
They use various methods to control information and population behavior, striking a balance between understanding preferences and restricting their expression.

Selectorate Theory

Selectorate theory models the pursuit and maintenance of political power in autocracies.
Power is often concentrated in a small group (winning coalition) enabling the leader to retain power more easily.
Dictatorships rely on a selectorate to support the leader.
The dictator’s objective is to have a winning coalition as small as possible. A smaller coalition allows more discretion over resource allocation, i.e., allowing larger private rents to winning coalition members.
A larger winning coalition is a higher cost and has lower taxes and less private rents.

The Winning Coalition

The winning coalition (W) is a critical subset of the selectorate whose support is necessary for the leader to stay in power.
The leader receives loyalty by offering private rents (gifts, benefits, concessions).
The size of W influences tax rates and public good provision. A smaller W can lead to higher taxes and less public goods.

Regime Stability and Welfare

Regime stability in autocracies is tied to the size of the winning coalition (W).
Smaller W allows higher private rents to coalition members (strong loyalty), but could harm economic welfare.
Larger W results in lower private rents, promoting a larger but less loyal coalition. This can increase economic growth and welfare.

The Guardianship Dilemma

Strong militaries are necessary for regimes to consolidate power and suppress rebellions.
Dictators often share power with high-ranking military officials, creating a potential for coups.
Rebel regimes often outlast others because of power sharing in advance of regime consolidation.
This dilemma is more pronounced in civilian regimes compared to coup or rebel regimes

Limited Authoritarianism

Autocracies with institutional power-sharing mechanisms are often more durable and prone to peaceful transitions of power.
The fear of allies rebelling can curb a leader’s ability to take advantage of their position.
Effective institutions limit the leader’s power, therefore, improving regime stability.

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Description

Test your understanding of autocratic regimes, their methods of maintaining power, and the application of selectorate theory. This quiz explores the dynamics between autocrats, their allies, and the general population, focusing on compliance and stability. Delve into the challenges faced by autocratic leaders and their strategies.