Define These Authoritarian Terms Flashcards

Political systems that have some of the appearances of being democratic, but where institutions, processes, laws and policies are manipulated to keep rulers or elite groups in power.

Regimes based on submission to authority, characterized by ruling elites, limited political pluralism, centralized political control, intolerance of opposition, and human rights abuses.

The exercise of absolute power, often characterized by the abuse of the powers of office, arbitrary choices, and the use of violent intimidation. It can be used to describe the actions of an individual or a group, and the term is interchangeable with dictatorship, tyranny, and autocracy.

Support, encouragement, access, and privileges bestowed by one individual or organization on another. In the case of authoritarian regimes, the term describes the use of state resources by leaders to reward those providing support to the regime.

A form of government in which a monarch wields absolute power over a state, and in which all other institutions of government are marginal. Should not be confused with the limited powers of a constitutional monarchy.

An arrangement in which authoritarian leaders use the media, propaganda, and political institutions to make sure that they dominate how the wider population relates to a political system.

An illegal seizure of political power by the military. Although the term conjures up images of a violent and unwelcome capture of power from civilian rulers, many coups replace one military regime with another, involve little loss of life, and some are even welcomed by citizens.

A state based on an Islamic constitution and full application of Islamic law (sharia), although the precise role of the latter is sometimes ambiguous.

Government by religious leaders.

The most absolute form of authoritarian rule, based either on a guiding ideology or the goal of major social change, with total control exercised by a leader, state or party over all aspects of public and private life.

The abuse of office for private gain. It occurs when an official allocates a benefit in exchange for a bribe, rather than on the basis of entitlement. The bribe may persuade officials to do what they should have done anyway, or to do it promptly.