Non-Democratic Regimes (Authoritarianism)

Methods used by authoritarian regimes to maintain power, including economic benefits, patronage (favors for political support), repression (force), scapegoating, and limiting access to resources for opponents.

Characteristics of a state with limited capacity to govern, including low economic development, unstable conflicts, lack of control over various groups (gangs, militants), and no monopoly on force

The potential role of cultural values and norms in supporting authoritarian systems, often including deference to authority figures in religious groups (ex. Sharia law, Confucianism).

A strategy of gaining compliance through benefits or incentives rather than force.

Exchange of benefits or resources for political support.

The use of force or threats to ensure compliance.

The use of propaganda and image-building to elevate a leader's stature in the minds of the people.

Authoritarian regimes that impose a guiding ideology encompassing all aspects of life (politics, economics, society).

A form of authoritarianism with a strong emphasis on nationalism to further the state. Includes war, intense, jingoistic propaganda.

Conflict between groups with different identities/nationalities.

Intrastate conflict; government vs. a group (or groups).

Conflict between different ethnic groups.

Use of violence and intimidation against civilians for political goals.

Terrorism that crosses national borders.

Groups or individuals not part of a government.

Conflict where one side has a significant power imbalance.

Strong, inherent ties that unite a group.

A model suggesting terrorists are rational actors seeking political ends.

A conflict where groups vie for ownership over resources.

Rapid, fundamental, and violent domestic change in values, institutions, structures, leadership, government activities, and policies, spurred by the masses.

Individuals' rational assessment of the costs and benefits of participating in protests or other forms of dissent.

Shared cultural beliefs and understandings that shape people's views on acceptable forms of action, like revolution or protest.

A sense of discontent arising from a perceived gap between one's expectations and current reality.

An individual's evaluation of the potential costs (e.g., safety, loss) versus benefits (e.g., societal change) of participating in a protest.

Collapse of central administrative and military systems, creating opportunities for social change.

Divisions among the elite create chances for previously marginalized political movements.

A system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa.

Policies that restricted access to housing in suburbs based on race or other factors.

The practice of refusing services, like mortgages, to communities based on location or race.

Differences in pay between groups, often based on gender or race.

Government funding for private schools which can affect school access.

Regions in conflict with complex political and social histories.

Forcing people to move from their homes due to their ethnic background.

Forcibly relocating ethnic groups within a nation.

The subjugation of individuals based on restrictions.

Strict and restrictive rules which limit women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.

The belief that a nation is the most important political unit.

The idea that nationalism comes from a natural, inherent need to belong.

The idea that nationalism’s intensity fluctuates over time.

The idea that nationalism became prominent with new political and economic forces.

A nationalist movement to unite people/territories in a shared past.

Groups wanting to separate from their current nation.

A form of nationalism where people with shared identity live near multiple countries.

A period of upheaval in China marked by discontent with foreign influence, internal conflicts, and a struggle for power between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CCP).

The Nationalist Party of China, initially pro-democracy but later seeking authoritarian control.

Chinese Communist party founded in 1919, gaining power through rural support and eventually taking control of China.

Leader of the CCP, responsible for transforming China politically and socially during his rule.

Mao Zedong's economic and social plan that aimed at rapid industrialization of China but caused widespread famine.

Mao Zedong's campaign to remove opposition and re-shape Chinese society; involving widespread violence and social upheaval.

Overthrow of the Shah's regime in Iran, leading to an Islamic theocracy under Ayatollah Khomeini.

Religious leader who led the Iranian Revolution and established an Islamic republic in Iran.

Ruler of Iran preceding the revolution, who was overthrown by religious movements.

Student-led protests in Beijing, China, demanding greater political freedom and economic reform.

Leader of China who oversaw the transition to market-oriented economy.

In 1953, the US assisted in a coup to reinstate the Shah of Iran, supported by the West, amidst opposition from Khomeini followers and middle class.

The Shah's opposition, with Khomeini's followers and middle class pushing for political freedom, led to massive protests, Shah's exile and Ayatollah Khomeini's theocratic rule (1979-1989).

A new authoritarian theocracy established after the 1979 Revolution, characterized by a shift to a more restrictive political system with less political freedoms and violent suppression of opponents.

Strained relations with the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia characterize the current Iranian political landscape, with ongoing support for regional proxies like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah.

Addressing issues like crime, corruption, and economic inequality is crucial for maintaining faith in democratic governance. Strong institutions and accountability mechanisms are necessary.

Many countries, particularly in South Asia and the Arab world, experience issues with weak governance, corruption, and economic inequality, which contributes to democratic disillusionment and shifts towards authoritarianism.

The potential for a decline in democratic systems worldwide if governance challenges aren't addressed and aid strategies are not reformed.