Strategies of Survival (2): Patronage and power sharing
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Geddes, Barbara, Joseph George Wright, Joseph Wright, and Erica Frantz. How dictatorships work: Power, personalization, and collapse. Cambridge University Press, 2018. Chapter 6: (“Why Parties and Elections in Dictatorships?” p. 129-153)
– Lust-Okar, Ellen. “Elections under authoritarianism: Preliminary lessons from
Jordan.” Democratization 13.3 (2006): 456-471.
– Anne Meng (2020). Constraining Dictatorship: From Personalized Rule to Institutionalized Regimes. Chapter 1 (p.1-23)
you are expected to write a short reading response . You should 1) sum up the main thesis and arguments of two readings that week in 200 words; 2) make and support one point in 200 words (e.g. an evaluation and critique of one article, argument, or concept, a connection between the readings an application/example, questions and issues left unanswered
Sample Solution
The main thesis of Geddes, Wright and Frantz’s book “How Dictatorships Work” is that power in authoritarian regimes is typically personalized and centered around a single individual, who maintains control through a combination of coercion, patronage, and electoral manipulation. They argue that this type of system can lead to instability and eventual collapse due to the lack of institutionalization which results from relying primarily on an individual for decision-making power. This allows for actions to be taken without proper oversight or accountability as any changes made are determined by the ruler’s personal preferences.
In contrast , Ellen Lust-Okar’s article “Elections Under Authoritarianism: Preliminary Lessons From Jordan” suggest that while elections are often used by dictators as a tool for manipulating public opinion they still have some benefit in terms of introducing greater levels of political competition. She argues that elections can challenge autocratic rule if turnout levels remain high enough since this reduces the ability for rulers to make sweeping changes without risking widespread opposition .
Finally, Anne Meng’s book “Constraining Dictatorship: From Personalized Rule To Institutionalized Regimes” takes both arguments into account when looking at how these systems ultimately end up functioning. She suggests there needs to be a balance between having too much or too little control – with too much leading towards further rigidity whilst lacking it could result in chaotic situations where there is no way for citizens to properly engage with government decisions.
