Authoritarianism: A Quick and Easy Guide
Congratulations! You are now dictator of your nation! Through your [power acquisition method], you are in an influential position to guide your nation for the next few [days/years/decades]! Be proud, for you are following a strong tradition of autocrats usurping democratic norms for the sake of personal gain. Play your cards right and future generations might even thank you for it!
You might be excited to get started right away with arresting opposition politicians and packing the courts with your cronies, but hold your horses! The modern era has brought changes and some historical perspective, so this guide shall attempt to give you some pointers on how to shore up your regime and keep your head. After these few ground rules, you’ll be poised to buck the post-Cold War trend of democratization and lead your country–by yourself–into the future!
[pullquote]The modern era has brought changes and some historical perspective, so this guide shall attempt to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls that previous dictators have fallen into.[/pullquote]
1) Allow “elections.”
Trust us, keep elections! Keeping mobs off the streets should be one of your top priorities, and elections make the public feel as if their voice is heard, even if it doesn’t ultimately matter. There are many ways to guarantee an election that will be in your favor. Gerrymandering, opaque electoral authorities, clientelism, and good old-fashioned fraud are just a few of the methods that other dictators have used. Get creative!
2) Embrace the free market!
Gone are the times of Communist authoritarianism. Nowadays it is easy for you to be an autocrat and a capitalist at the same time. With some basic property laws and economic institutions embracing the free market, investors will come knocking both at home and abroad! Open your arms to global capitalism and your country gets an avenue for economic growth. This will keep both the public and your cronies satisfied, guaranteeing your absolute political power. (See Singapore for further details.)
[pullquote]Gone are the times of Communist authoritarianism. Nowadays it is easy for you to be an autocrat and a capitalist at the same time.[/pullquote]
3) Don’t be afraid of the Internet.
Increased access to information over the Internet can be an issue, but it’s an easy one to circumvent. There are many ways you can warp the Internet to your advantage! China is a great example of simply blocking off the outside net to its citizens. Other countries have been able to flood the web with false information or propaganda, making sure no one knows what is true anymore. Social media can also become a great tool of promoting social conformity. Remember: Big Data can be your friend!
4) Crackdown on corruption.
There is nothing worse than an average Joe feeling cheated by a government official that he can’t vote to replace. When somebody feels there is nothing they can do to change their misfortune, they become desperate, and desperate people often do violent, rebellious things. Therefore, make sure you have a robust anti-corruption agency to keep tabs on officials. Even better, such an agency can have multiple roles! Feel free to arrest potential challengers within your government under the guise of an anti-corruption campaign. The public will love you for it!
5) Authoritarian legislatures—they’re a thing.
It sounds illogical, we know! But legislatures fulfill three vital roles: First, squabbling for power between fellow ruling elites can be institutionally coordinated, preventing potential coups. Secondly, you can buy off opposition parties with seats; parties that would otherwise take their opposition underground. Thirdly, you give the public an indirect avenue of advocacy. Even if you are not accountable to the public, it’s very important to have a proactive means of gaining information about what citizens care about. Manipulate election and party rules to your advantage, and you won’t even have to worry about such a legislature being an effective constraint on your absolute power!
6) Utilize ethnic/racial/national/economic othering.
Nothing builds social cohesion better than singling out a group to play the role of “enemy of the people.” Othering is a method proven by both democratic and authoritarian governments to promote patriotism in the general public. Laying the woes of the nation at the feet of a single group unites everyone else in a collective identity born out of hatred and fear. Just choose which group you are othering carefully! Choosing specific domestic ethnic groups might seem tempting, but this can have real and very violent consequences. If you don’t actually want to cause people to kill each other, feel free to keep it vague and simple! Other good alternatives for othering that other dictators have used in the past have included: “American imperialists,” “conspiring foreign capitalists,” “the evil IMF,” and the “global elite,” all of whom are seeking to usurp the will of the people. Does it really matter if it’s true? Not really, so long as you send a message that resonates!
We hope you found this quick user guide helpful and informative! Now get out there, arrest some journalists, contribute to the death of the world’s liberal order, and have fun.
Syrus Jin ‘19 studies in the College of Arts & Sciences. He can be reached at jin.s@wustl.edu.