Comparative Pt. 2 PDF: Non-Democratic Regimes

Chapter 7 Non-Democratic Regimes (Authoritarian Regime) Authoritarianism = a non-dem form of government that favors a close, concentrated process of decision-making Not citizen-focused government (you as a citizen aren’t calling the shots) Only a few are allowed...

Chapter 7 Non-Democratic Regimes (Authoritarian Regime) Authoritarianism = a non-dem form of government that favors a close, concentrated process of decision-making Not citizen-focused government (you as a citizen aren’t calling the shots) Only a few are allowed in and everybody else goes along with it Where do non-dems come from? 1. Economics a. Poverty (lack of need to survive) i. Control populations because people in poverty don’t have anything ii. I will end your poverty-stricken conditions b. Income inequality (looks at the gap of wealth, who has money) 2. Conflict a. Conquest/Invasion: someone from outside comes and takes over the regime i. Cold War and Russia today; WW2 ii. Colonialism iii. Has lots of violence b. Civil Conflict: internally i. N vs S Civil War; ethnic conflict Rwanda; Myanmar; China ii. People fighting internally might lead the gov to favor one side over the other c. Revolutions: if one corrupt government takes over, that doesn’t mean that the new government will be positive i. China; Iran d. Organized actors in society move against democratic regimes (inside a country we might see groups emerging, that could be externally funded or internal group) i. Brothers of Italy; Taliban; Jan 6; military coups; FARC 3. Elections Electorally reducing dem a. Dem decay by-election of authoritarians: I can be your savior and bring you change! i. Peru President 1990: two groups fighting, the people wanted it to stop, he said I will stop the violence and bring groups together, he does it but he has to kill 70,000 people to do so b. Trade-offs for voters How can these regimes stay in power? Techniques and Strategies to persist Produce economic benefits (Chile) Patronage/clientelism (carrots - I’ll give u a treat if you vote for me (payment to supporters)  Repression (sticks - violence, bad things) Scapegoating Limit access to political opponents to resources like info, media, and public space Weak/failed states tend to be authoritarian - Low econ development - Unstable conflicts, competing groups - Uncontrolled gangs/militants/guerillas/terrorists (gov has control over them anymore) - No monopoly on use of force - = no capacity to deal with problems Does Culture help authoritarianism persist? = certain cultural values and norms → authoritarian system Do religious groups/cultures defer to authority? ○ Confucianism;sharia Law; Arabism; Christian Nationalism (evalegical;catholtic) ○ My religion wants me to follow others, not the government so I follow that ○ Deference to military/populists *do reading cause she skipped it* Types of Authoritarianism Three(ish) C’s of political control Cooptation ○ clientelism/patronage (benefit you get from supporting a political group or party) ○ Corporatism Coercion (get ppl to comply with whoever gets up to challenge them) Cult of personality (use the right words or rhetoric) ○ charismatic Types 1. Totalitarian regimes a. Have ideology (1. Pols 2. Econ 3. society) which they derive how they run the political system and society. In the form of isms (communism, fascism, nationalism, populism, neoliberalism) i. If you go against this viewpoint, you can’t be alive anymore ii. Us vs them iii. God complex (I'm anointed to be here so I can do whatever I want to you) iv. Fascism = a form of radical auth w huge focus on ideology (esp nationalism) and doing whatever’s necessary to better the state. Includes war, jingoism 1. Extreme control over individuals and the economy a. Autarky  b. Nazi - 20 million died. Stalin - 30 million died. Mao 80 mil 2. Mussolini’s Italy: the birth of fascism a. Rose to power in 1922 as appointed PM b. Gave himself more power c. Used extreme oppression against opponents d. Nationalism for him was country-based, not racially based e. Hated democracy so he was given power 2. Theocracies 3. Personalistic dictatorship 4. Bureaucratic-authoritarianism illiberal democracy: A policy with some democratic features but in which political and civil rights are not all guaranteed or protected. delegative democracy: A hybrid form of regime that is democratic but involves the electorate "delegating” significant authority to a government. electoral authoritarianism: A name applied to situations in which authoritarian regimes nominally compete in elections. competitive authoritarianism: A form of government or regime that allows some political competition but not enough to qualify as fully democratic. Resource curse = dem decay and economic turmoil Rentierism brings Dutch Disease = the process of deindustrialization that can result from a sudden natural resource expansion Increased imports and inflation Venezuela’s resource curse V is poor and we aren’t benefiting from this stuff Man comes and said he’s from the people because he was dark skin 1998 he wins. He planned a coup in 1992 and was arrested Food scarcity No electricity Protests and brutality Inflation Refugees  - If you have these problems in your government, you will emigrate Nondemocratic Regimes Common traits Ruled by small in-groups Promote antidemocratic values – illiberal education No institutional accountability Arbitrary governance/rule of law Civil society space is limited – internet control Violate human rights “West” turns a blind eye ○ Internatl orgs and rules limited ○ Foreign aid Rules-based organizations under siege Undercut the democracy-promoting and human rights efforts of rules-based organizations like the UN, OAS, NGO, etc UN Security Council: ○ China and Russia as permanent members ○ 15 countries, they have 5 permanent members (France, UK, USA, China, Russia) Illiberal education Distorting history (everyone does this) nationalistic/extremist views on democracy and the West = Change narrative re: dem Strengthen their legitimacy Internet under threat Govts control access Have paid trolls overwhelm/disrupt undesirable discussions Punish outspoken critics Software to track Authoritarian foreign aid and influence Non-dems want to obtain influence abroad by providing aid to flailing countries ○ Form mutually beneficial (usually economic arrangements) No stipulations for human rights or accountability Not usually very transparent Chinese investment in Africa Communism Communist Manifesto 1848 = class conflict caused by capitalism  Us vs Them ○ Bourgeoisie: own the means of production, exploit the workers, control all property ○ Proletariat: working poor Requires an industrialized society (to make a communist transition) ○ Communist societies need to fund, now that we have the resources we can now take over the bourgeoisie Communism tenets Communism requires an entire world system The entire economy is controlled by the government ○ How is this different from the fascist application of autarky? A: looking inward and we don’t need to dependent on anybody else. Heavy on nationalism C: no need to worry about nationalism because there is no nation Little/no private property Heavily graduated income tax Centralized the means of services ○ Everyone has access to heat, transportation, and the internet. Less income inequality (not the same income) Free education for all children ○ And no child labor Women’s rights Abolish religion “the opiate of the masses” ○ False consciousness = capitalism, government, social rules, and religion are all constructed by elites to serve elite purposes and hinder everyone else ○ Lift the veil from people’s eyes How to make a stateless and classless society? “Workers of the world, unite” = revolution = dictatorship of the proletariat Successful? Consider: international arrangements with modern statehood and interconnectedness via capitalism and globalization (today’s world makes it hard to apply this) Historically, society was very socialist/communist ○ Kibbutz (communities in Israel), tribes ○ All human organizations before modern statehood Thus, we have socialism = The government controls the means of production (key industries) Ensure egalitarian distribution of goods The goal is to have little income inequality, making sure citizens have basic needs met (health, food, education, jobs, homes) 1922-91 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)  Context: Anastasia’s family is taken over. Russian Revolution of 1917- Vanguard (protector of the working class): led to the overthrowing of Russian monarchy Lenin died in 1924= Stalin - 1953 A centrally planned economy, industrialization, satellite states, and the creation of gulags (Russia was pretty feudal) Late 1980s Gorbachev tried economic reforms since his people were starving ○ Glasnost (transparency/openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) China Communist party formed in 1921, Mao Zedong led the Revolution in 1947 The Great Leap Forward 1958-62 (econ( and The Cultural Revolution (dissidents) ○ An attempt to rapidly industrialize China and boost its agricultural production. ○ This involved the creation of communes (large, state-run farms) and the push to increase steel production. ○ The campaign failed disastrously, leading to a massive famine that resulted in millions of deaths 1989 Tiananmen Square ○ In 1989, thousands of students and citizens gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to protest for democracy and greater freedoms. ○ The Chinese government responded with a violent crackdown, resulting in many deaths and the suppression of political dissent. Political Identity Identity = sense of self Group identities can yield in-groups and out-groups Identities are cultural, historical, and political Created by humans and can change, and they influence/influenced by the ways that power is distributed in society What identities can influence politics? Race ○ Biological categories of physical differences ○ Culturally constructed, changes Irish and Italians in the US Ethnicity ○ Ethnic group = people that share Culture Sense of long-run history and memories Ancestry myths Usually shared territory ○ This a socially constructed concept, and not entirely visible Gender  ○ = culturally constructed roles or identities one has by virtue of being ascribed the status of being a man or woman (as opposed to biological sex male v female v intersex) Sexual orientation ○ Heteronormativity = when straight is considered “normal” and genders (and their associated roles) are stereotypical National identity Religion ○ We are going to use these texts against everybody and if you don’t conform you die, you are arrested, etc.. Socio-Economic Status Education Others Identities can lead to Contention: conflict, ethnic cleansing, genocide, etc.. Forms of discrimination supported by power disparities Explicit (systemic) (allowable based on what the gov is saying or implicit (happening but we are not going to say out loud) Example: Segregation: Jim Crow Laws (Literacy Tests (Explicit), Interracial Marriage, Poll Taxes (having to pay to vote). Apartheid Housing policies in suburbs (and redlining) Pay gaps School vouchers Gaza/Israel/West Bank Ethnic cleansing: Movement of people, forcing people to move out Mass displacement of Uguyrs in China, no language and no religion Removing people based on an identity trait Repression Rules under the Taliban for women: Don’t speak to each other Must speak quietly in your house so men can’t hear you Can’t speak in public Can’t sing Can’t show face or body Can’t go to school (beyond 6th) or work Can’t look at men, and can only leave house with male relative One more identity: nationalism = nations are the basic units of social and political life, espouses great pride and incentivizes collectivity Nations are not always at the state level Where does nationalism come from? Primordalism = collective identity for survival ○ Nationalism can stem from wanting to belong, and sharing something with others for survival sake Perennaialims = intensity varies across time and space ○ Humans nature and need for survival makes us collectivize and adhere for the same stuff Modernism = newer, colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, globalization ○ Facilitated by all these, we didn’t have legit states until back in the day, nationalism is newer and countries have fought about their nationalism Political institutions = governments creates for a reason Cultural/grassroots = groups develop ID w time/experience (Israel, Palestine) Types of nationalism Irredentism = re-uniting large groups of people/territory, usually as a movement Countries that were historically together but are currently divided Territory, language, and culture are shared and promoted Russia and Ukraine India and Pakistan Secessionists = a group of people wanting autonomy, and to secede from the state they belong to Away from the country, they are already in Marginal nationalism = groups of people living near borders that share identities with multiple countries/groups. Makes it harder to identify with one nation/state Turkey Related: Diaspora Ethno-national conflict = conflict between groups of people with different identities Most heterogeneous areas experience little conflict, but some always have conflict Ethnic vs. Civil wars: ○ Civils are always intrastate (happening inside the state and can spread beyond the border). Gov vs another group ○ Two ethnic groups inside or even outside Examples Secessionist, irredentist, etc. Rwanda, Darfur in western Sudan, Sri Lanka, Kosovo, Kurds, China Uighurs, Myanmar Rohingya Why does conflict occur  1. Primordial bonds: does the group feel threatened? 2. Lack of access to resources or space 3. Discriminatory/exclusionary practices 4. Globalization 5. Social psychology 6. International community Oil in Nigeria The Christian population is in control over the oil which makes them richer than the Muslims Research and take notes on Taliban Isis How do they achieve this? How states have responded? What tools do they use? Terrorism = threat and/or use of violence and intimidation/fear/terror against people (usually civilians) in the pursuit of political aims Trying to force action: you need to do this or else Civilians because they aren’t supposed to be part of it Pursuit of political aims: there is a group saying if you don’t do this we will attack ○ Often tied with ethnic, religious aims Terrorism basics Physical violence with psychological harm ○ Unpredictable so there is always constant fear ○ tool/tactics used Transnational vs local ○ Some people target their local population but Taliban is also transnational because they are targeting US too Perpetrators are non-state actors ○ Asymmetric war They see themselves with no other viable alternatives ○ I don’t have legislature so the only option is to just use violence Groups seize on identity IRA, Hamas, White Christian Nationalists The Strategic Model assumes terrorists Are rational actors who attack civilians for political ends Are motivated by stable, consistent political preferences ○ Assumes that everyone in the group has the same message and goal  Use terrorism when other means are exhausted But what about.. Max Abrahms –solidarity, community.. Econ/$ Fear/force? Implications of the lack of universal agreement Without universal agreement about terrorism… Discrimination against certain groups ○ Like Uighurs Allows states to increase security (while curbing citizens’ rights to privacy) State-sponsored terrorism: funding a group or engaging in terrorist tactics as official govt/military ○ Israel in Gaza. Because the gov is doing it. It’s deemed a different way. Internationally, groups may want to operate from within weaker stones Domestic terrorism? “lone wolf terrorism”? ○ One person doing the terrorist attack. Oklahoma Bombing: anti-government, used bombing, book Boston Marathon: it was in the heart of Boston where everyone was The Taliban means the students. 1979 Soviet Union invaded afghanistan Afghanistan was led by ethnic leaders instead of having a government so these groups started fighting the soviet union Soviet Union left and tensions rose amongst the small groups so they started fighting Kandahar was especially violent and they asked Mohammed Omar for help ( who had fought it the soviet war. Him and other students gathered and drove out the mujahideen They brought peace in Kandar for the first time so people supported them The Talibans were all members of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group the Pashtuns. Which made it easier for them to take over the Pashtun majority in the south. Then they moved west and north Funded their expansion through taking over highways which allowed them to raise millions through taxes. And also the poppy growing regions (opium trade) Pakistan was worried that the Taliban might be with India and take over so they sent weapons early on Sep 1996 Taliban took control of Kabul Beating, stonings, and public executions were used by the Taliban for whomever went against their policies They allied with Osama Bin landen. US said whatever happens is Talbian’s responsibilty And Taliban leadership fled to Pakistan while others went into hiding in rural Afghanistan US built it into a democracy Rural afghanistan didn’t benefit and was consisitently under attack. US was hunting down Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders 2004 Taliban regrouped and they are from rural Afghanistan In 2020, Trump agreed to leave the Taliban and 2021 Biden finalized it So Taliban took control The Taliban achieves control using guerrilla warfare, ideological influence, propaganda, and funding from the drug trade. States have responded with military interventions, sanctions, and conditional diplomacy. The Taliban’s tools include enforcing strict Sharia law, using intelligence networks, controlling media, and leveraging both coercion and negotiations for power. Revolutions = relatively sudden and must achieve dramatic social and/or political change Must involve popular mobilization Hard to define/know when a revolution occurs, so scientists distinguish between types of revolutions: Political ○ More common ○ = changes political institutions and structures ○ Things like overhauling the constitutions, electoral system, bureaucracy, etc. ○ After the end of Cold War, there were many political revolutions in Central and Eastern Euro to create dems out of Communism ○ Other types Coups d’êtat: use of force by the military to change the government non-electorally Anti-colonial revolutions: to remove powers so that the nation can rule itself independently Third World revolutions: revolutions these days in states that depend on international networks of states or organizations (WB, IMF) A hegemon (dominant global power) can influence revolutions by either supporting or opposing them Social Why do revolutions happen 1. Relative deprivation and social disequilibrium a. = Changes in the social order can lead to a desire for rapid change – people’s lives are disrupted, tensions grows, and so they try to reconstruct society  b. Relative deprivation leads to demands for social transformation c. Conditions change which upsets the status quo 2. Deprivation and political opportunities a. Revos can occur as a consequence of absolute deprivation b. People are fed up c. = results in a window of opportunity where enough actors can mobilize 3. Rational Choice Participate Don’t Participate Revolution succeeds Shares in collective benefits Shares in collective benefits (free rider) Revolutions fails Face personal costs Face NO personal costs a. Individuals’ rational analysis of costs and benefits of participation in contentious action b. States and dominant regimes hold together when a majority judge that it wouldn’t be in their interest to engage in protest activity 4. Cultural/framing explanations a. Everyone has a belief about how things are in reality and are supposed to be b. These cultural ideas and frames regarding contention must exist in most people’s minds for anything significant to occur i. = enough people believe revolution is an acceptable form of action ii. Inequality, anger etc. aren’t enough - - must frame the issues and solutions appropriately 1. Ex: you’ve been taught protesting is ‘bad’ or goes against your religion or govt authority so if someone says ‘let’s revolt’ you won’t do it Social Revolutions: Theda Skocpol = rapid, fundamental, and violent domestic change in dominant values, political institutions, social structures, leadership, govt activities, and policies; brought about by the masses ○ Econ, poli, AND social Major changes in how power and resources are distributed: structural transformation and massive class upheavals Russia 1917, France 1789-99, China 1911-1949, Iran 1979 (they were peasant rebellions) What allowed for social revolutions to occur in her case countries? Protests Relative deprivation Cost-benefit: is it worth it? Collapse of central administrative and military machineries (bureaucratic breakdown)  Marginal elite political movements — schism!: Divisions among the elite created opportunities for political movements that were previously marginalized. Govts faced outside pressure to modernize and revolts from below Agrarian feudal system dying and economic grievances were present causing == Widespread peasant rebellions = crisis of state, a breakdown of social control Comparative case studies Revolutions China 1911-49 Discontent with foreign control (mostly British) AKA Republic of China moved to Taiwan = infighting, civil war The KMT The ruler of China tried to make himself emperor so … Sun Yat Sen responded by starting the first political party – Kuomintang (pro-dem-ish) More anger China helped the allies in WWI with labor, mining, and work in factories, but … Ignored in Treaty of Versailles In 1919 = Communist Party of China (CCP) CCP versus KMT 1920s struggle between the CCP and KMT for power and influence KMT controlled the majority, had an urban base CCP had rural base 1928 the CCP expelled, but returned in 1931 WW2 and after Japan occupation The CCP was able to take over a weakened country and military on Oct 1, 1949, driving the KMT into exile to Taiwan Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China Mao Land, social, and cultural reforms with economic plans completely altered the culture and society of the Chinese people Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution 40 - 80 million deaths (starvation, work camps, executions) 1982 Deng Xiaoping leads Tiananmen and after 1989 student protests in Bejing over corruption, inflation, econ reform Throughout the 1990s China set itself up with a capitalist Communism 2980 people in China leg — National People’s Congress Iran 1979 The Shah (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was in power for nearly 40 years Ayatollah Khomeini = theocracy Modernization Created a modern economy Grew the middle class Extended suffrage and other rights to women ○ Many conservative men felt this was an assault on their identity dominance ○ Like Khomeini So why the revo? Undemocratic monarch In 1953 the US helped topple Iran’s PM and returned the Shah to his throne The Cold War = Shah was sympathetic to the West The White Revolution in the 1960s Religion and women The Revo The Shah’s opposition was conservative Khomeini followers and members of the middle class (who wanted even greater political freedom) Millions of people protested Shah fled, Supreme Leader Ayatollah took control (until death in 1989) Khomeini’s Iran 1979-89 New authoritarian theocracy More freedoms were squashed Opponents met with violence Iran today Ayatollah Khamenei – Supreme leader since 1989 ○ Council of Guardians (12); 2000 representatives for the supreme ruler, revolutionary guard Strained relationships with US, Israel, S. Arabia Funding Houthi rebels in Yemen to bomb cargo; Funding Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel; Simmering opposition within Diamond The document discusses the challenges facing democracies worldwide, particularly in regions where democratic structures are under threat. It highlights that many democracies, especially in South Asia and the Arab world, are struggling with governance issues, leading to disillusionment among citizens and a turn towards authoritarian alternatives (). The text emphasizes the importance of consolidating democratic gains by addressing governance problems, such as crime, corruption, and economic inequality, to restore faith in democratic systems (, ). The author argues that economic growth cannot be sustained without significant improvements in governance, as seen in Kenya's recent struggles with corruption and electoral malpractice despite economic progress (). The document also points out that many democracies are plagued by poor governance, where corrupt practices are normalized, making it difficult for these states to survive as democracies (, ). Furthermore, the text stresses the need for strong institutions that ensure accountability, such as independent electoral administrations and counter-corruption commissions, to foster genuine democratic practices (, ). It concludes by calling for a renewed international focus on good governance and the necessity of reforming aid strategies to support democratic revival in at-risk democracies, warning that without such efforts, the world may face a democratic depression (, ).