Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It considers how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton examines the âlife cycleâ of authoritarian regimes. How are they born? What challenges do they face during life? Why do they die? The author shows how factors such as natural resource wealth and cross-border collaboration can contribute to authoritarian durability. He also highlights the disturbing fact that even when authoritarian regimes collapse, voters often use their newfound democratic rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.

James Loxton, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

James Loxton is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the University of Sydney. He is the award-winning author of Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle (2021) and co-editor of Life after Dictatorship: Authoritarian Successor Parties Worldwide (2018). He holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University.