Authoritarianism in Developing Nations Role of Democracy in Development Dependency Theory: Core nations require subservient local elites to maintain the periphery status of other nations. Therefore core nations promote and maintain authoritarianism often under a liberal democratic guise. True democratization requires economic independence first. "Take Off" Theory: A mobilization theorist will argue that democratization is part and parcel of development and must occur before or at least in step with other efforts at development. An institutionalist will argue that building effective political/social/ economic institutions must come first. Empirical Reality: About 65 percent of all nation-states are under authoritarian regimes and most of these are found in developing nations. E.g. DEMOCRATIZATION "WAVES" AND "REVERSE WAVES" 1st demo. wave--- 1828 to 1926 1st reverse wave--1922 to 1942 2nd demo. wave-- 1943 to 1962 2nd reverse wave-1958 to 1975 3rd demo. wave---1974-present (Source: Samuel P. Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 1991, p. 16) What is "authoritarian rule?" It can be most simply described as a system of rule that is non-democratic . . . What then what is "democratic rule?" What are the essential and distinguishing features of a democratic regime? - Popular Will/Sovereignty? - Serving the Public Good? - Majority Rule? - Regular Elections? - The Rule of Law? - Extensive Personal Freedoms? - Social justice? - Economic equality? A minimalist definition of democracy will allow more states to be classified as democratic. Non-democratic states would include not only authoritarian states but also totalitarian states Three Possible Political Systems: Democratic/Republican Systems: Authoritarian Systems Totalitarian Systems This classification is comprehensive and the categories are essentially exclusive. . . . . or at least they should be! Unfortunately there are cases of nation-states whose systems are in a state of transition from one system to another so that there are problematic cases that appear to straddle these categories. Authority, Legitimacy, Authoritarianism Types of Authority Types of Legitimacy Democratic/Republican Systems: Political power is decided by regular, free, competitive, elections in which the majority of the nation's adult population chooses their chief decision-makers. - The state [=political system] allows considerable autonomy to civil society and to religion, which themselves may exercise some influence over politics and political issues Democratic Systems have been increasingly adopted in developing nations but are still represent a minority of political system types in the developing nations Authoritarian Systems - Political power is held in the hands of a relatively closed elite, which does not base its right to rule on regular elective processes, but on other claims of authority, usually traditional authority The state [=political system] allows considerable autonomy to civil society and to religion, but seeks to control or to restrain any activity in civil society or religion which appears to threaten the power monopoly of the ruling elite(s). - The majority of developing nations have political systems that can be classified as authoritarian. Totalitarian Systems Political power is held in the hands of a revolutionary cadre usually consisting of a revolutionary vanguard political party headed by a de facto dictator which bases its claim to authority on its position as guardian and defender of a new revolutionary political order. Leader within the party exercises authority based on personal charisma. - The state [=political system] is dominated by the revolutionary party which in turn dominates all aspects of society and individual life, including the economy, personal and family life, and all intellectual and religious activities. A few developing nations have fallen under the control of ambitious charismatic leaders or totalitarian political parties which have sought to enforce total control over their peoples. Types of Democratic Systems Parliamentary (or Parliamentary-Cabinet systems) best example, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - stresses rule by majority party and fusion of powers in state Presidential (or Presidential-Congressional system) best example, United States of America - stresses rule by consensus with minority veto system and separation of powers between state institutions. Mixed Presidential-Parliamentary Systems (e.g. France, Russia) - selectively incorporate aspects of both. Types of Non-Democratic Systems Traditional Authoritarian States - monarchies (Saudi Arabia) - tribal confederacies (United Arab Emirates) Modernizing Dictatorships - communist regimes (North Korea, China) - westernizing regimes tending to free market and democratic reforms (Singapore, Egypt) - fascist and other totalitarian regimes (Iraq, Iran) Personal Dictatorships Zaire under Sese Mobuto, Cuba under Fidel Castro Military Dictatorships One-Party States Corporatist Systems Latin America "Bureaucratic Authoritarianism" Guillermo O'Donnell, (1973) Regime Political Economic Dominant Type Participation Model Elites? Oligarchic Limited Export of Local Elitist Raw Goods Business Elites Populist More More More Mass Pluralistic Protectionist Mobilization Bureaucratic- Anti-Demo. Industrial Military and Authoritarian Elites Growth & Civilian Export Technocrats Expansion The Bureaucratic-Authoritarian State has variously used military dictatorships, one-party systems and corporatism. O'Donnell contended that most of them relied on military control of the political system in Latin America. Pitfalls That May Compromise New Democracies: 1. Being the first time experiment in democracy in your nation's history - no track-record, no previous experience. 2. Lacking a well-developed tradition of having an "Open Society" that tolerates divergence of views 3. Avoiding the Politics of Resentment and Exclusion: Too much "baggage of history" 4. Embracing Unrealistic Agenda: Being Set Up for Defeat 5. Avoiding Foreign Policy Pitfalls