A dictatorship is a type of government in which one person possesses “unlimited power.” Historically, Authoritarian regimes have existed throughout the world and still exist today. This paper will take an in-depth look at the nature of Authoritarian rule and its effects on democracy in the post-industrial international community.
The first step in defending democracy from authoritarianism is acknowledging that the threat is real. It is not just an occurrence in distant places and a historical anecdote. Rather, it is an existential risk that threatens the entire international order.
Authoritarian regimes typically erode democratic processes with gradual steps such as the erosion of institutional checks, a normalization of political violence, and the conditioning of economic opportunities on political loyalties. They exploit weak economic conditions and political crises that allow them to play hardball politics with opposition groups. They often attack civil society groups, universities, and the media to blunt public criticism of their policies. And they use coercive state powers to influence the electoral playing field in their favor.
Moreover, many authoritarians engage in “telephone law” to bypass ordinary court procedure. This practice allows the dictator to dictate how judges will preside over politically sensitive cases. In the long run, these tactics can undermine democracy and destroy human rights. This is why it’s essential that democracy defenders mobilize global networks of labor unions, think tanks, university groups, and nongovernmental organizations to expose electoral manipulation, corruption, and abuses of power.
