Authoritarian rule, or autocracy, refers to governments that control all branches of the state and impose rigid rules over society. In authoritarian regimes, the military and legislature are dominated by the leader’s party and act as a rubber stamp to his or her orders. Likewise, the judiciary takes direct instructions from and reports to the dictator. In extreme cases, the dictator may even be in control of civil liberties and the media. This type of government has been referred to as totalitarian, and it can be especially brutal. Pol Pot’s regime in Cambodia, for example, killed up to 30 percent of the population. The same applies to the Soviet-dominated regimes of Eastern Europe during the Cold War and North Korea under the Kim dynasty.
One of the main ways that modern authoritarians cement their grip on power is through the use of “salami tactics,” or slicing away democracy a bit at a time. They also use blatantly anti-democratic practices like rigging elections, silencing opposition political parties, and stacking the ranks of government with loyalists. These efforts are sometimes deliberate, but many times opportunistic or myopic.
It’s important to understand how authoritarians seize and maintain their hold on power so that activists can expose and resist them. Fortunately, authoritarians tend to follow consistent patterns, so it is possible to recognize these tactics and resist them. Grassroots mobilization, international advocacy, and strategic protests are all critical. Moreover, empowering subnational counterbalances and exposing electoral manipulation, corruption, and abuse of power through investigative reporting can help weaken the legitimacy of authoritarian ruling parties and create pathways for democratic renewal.