Authoritarian and Totalitarian
Regimes
Authoritarianism
• ‘Authoritarianism is a belief in, or practice of
government ‘from above’, in which authority
is exercised regardless of popular consent.
Authoritarianism thus differs from authority.
Authority rests on legitimacy and in that sense
it arises ‘from below’. Authoritarian regimes
therefore emphasize the claims of authority
over those of individual liberty.’
Totalitarianism
• ‘Totalitarianism is an all‐encompassing system of
political rule that is typically established by
pervasive ideological manipulation and open
terror and brutality. Totalitarianism differs from
both autocracy and authoritarianism in that it
seeks ‘total power’ through the politicisation of
every aspect of social and personal existence.’
• Totalitarianism thus implies the outright abolition
of civil society: the abolition of ‘the private’.
Friedrich and Brzezinski, 1963
‘The six-point syndrome’
• an official ideology
• a one-party state usually led by an allpowerful leader
• a system of terroristic policing
• a monopoly of the means of mass
communication
• a monopoly of the means of armed combat
• state control of all aspects of economic life
What is the difference between both?
• ‘Authoritarianism is usually distinguished from
totalitarianism. The practice of government from
above associated with monarchical absolutism,
traditional dictatorships, and most forms of
military rule is concerned with the repression of
opposition and political liberty rather than with
the more radical goal of obliterating the
distinction between the state and civil society.
Authoritarian regimes may thus tolerate a
significant range of economic religious and other
freedom.’
Study by Paul Sondrol
• ‘Totalitarian and Authoritarian Dictators: A
Comparison of Fidel Castro and Alfredo
Stroessner’
Journal of Latin American Studies , Vol. 23, No. 3
(Oct., 1991), pp. 599-‐620
Published by: Cambridge University Press
• Article Stable URL:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/157386
• Alfredo Stroessner was a Paraguayan military
officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989.
Sondrol argues that while both authoritarianism and totalitarianism are forms of autocracy, they differ in "key dichotomies"
Charisma
‘Unlike their bland and generally unpopular
authoritarian brethren, totalitarian dictators
develop a charismatic 'mystique' and a
mass‐based, pseudo‐democratic
interdependence with their followers via the
conscious manipulation of a prophetic image. ‘
Role conception
Concomitant role conceptions differentiate
totalitarians from authoritarians. Authoritarians
view themselves as individual beings, largely
content to control; and often maintain the
status quo (current state of affairs). The tyrant is
less a person than an indispensable 'function' to
guide and reshape the universe.
‘Consequently, the utilisation of power for personal
aggrandisement is more evident among authoritarians than
totalitarians. Lacking the binding appeal of ideology,
authoritarians support their rule by a mixture of instilling fear
and granting rewards to loyal collaborators, engendering a
kleptocracy (rule by thieves).’
‘Thus, compared to totalitarian systems, authoritarian systems
may also leave a larger sphere for private life, lack a guiding
ideology, tolerate some pluralism in social organization, lack
the power to mobilize the whole population in pursuit of
national goals, and exercise their power within relatively
predictable limits.’
Authoritarian regimes today
(Freedom House)
• WORST OF THE WORST
• 47 Countries are designated as not free.
• 9 of these have been given the survey’s lowest
possible rating of 7 for both political rights and
civil liberties. These worst-rated countries
represent a narrow range of systems and
cultures.
• North Korea is a one-party, Marxist-Leninist regime.
• Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—are Central Asian countries
ruled by dictators with roots in the Soviet period.
• Libya is an Arab country under the sway of a secular
dictatorship, while Sudan is ruled by a leadership that has
elements of both radical Islamism and a traditional military
junta.
• The remaining worst-rated states are Burma, a tightly
controlled military dictatorship;
• Equatorial Guinea, a highly corrupt regime with one of the
worst human rights records in Africa;
• Eritrea, an increasingly repressive police state; and
• Somalia, a failed state.
• Source:
http://www.freedomhouse.org/images/File/fi
w/FIW_2011_Booklet.pdf