As authoritarian rule grows in strength globally, this article helps organizers, bridge-builders and ordinary people understand its defining characteristics, how it takes hold, and how to resist it.
The hallmark of authoritarian rule is highly concentrated power maintained by political repression and the assumption that unquestioning obedience is necessary to maintain peace, prosperity and security. This power can be held by a person or a group and can be centered in a party, leader or military. Many scholars have developed various typologies describing variations of authoritarian regimes.
One classic authoritarian move is to pit people against each other. For example, if they threaten to raise the price of groceries, the authoritarian might argue that if you oppose this policy, you are the enemy. This us-versus-them narrative gives authoritarians the opportunity to weaken movements that could resist their encroachments on democracy.
Authoritarians may also claim to have a direct relationship with “ordinary people,” and many of them use some version of populism to do so. They might refer to themselves as the champion of those who have been forgotten by the establishment or deride their opponents as “elites.” Authoritarians often underestimate how prejudiced and conformist they are compared with most other people, according to research by Bob Altemeyer.
Some authoritarians will enact democratic facades, such as regular elections and a supposedly independent judiciary or legislature. However, in these cases, they will largely control the process and fill key positions with loyal people, limiting opposition.