Jose L Gonzalez

ID:10909401
PSCI 4952
Spring 2017
Competitive Authoritarianism
Competitive Authoritarianism or illiberal democracies are systems of governance in
which a liberal democracy does not exist but its neither an authoritarian regime. In such systems,
democratic institutions and laws protecting democracy exist but they lack the strength to make
sure democracy is enforced. In competitive authoritarian regimes, the head of governments is
normally strong enough to effectively abuse powers and behave like authoritarian leaders but is
not strong enough to essentially be a dictator. In such systems things like elections, freedom of
speech, as legitimate opposition to the government but such are not as effective as those in a
liberal democracy. In these types of regimes there are aspects of liberal democracies such as
separation of powers. The is the executive, the legislative and judicial branch. In a liberal
democracy, these institutions will serve as a system of checks. In competitive authoritarian
regime, these institutions will essentially be a rubberstamp on what the head of government
wants.
Competitive authoritarian regimes are essentially political limbo. These regimes are a
half way point between dictatorships and liberal democracies. New democracies run the risk of
sliding back into theses due to weaknesses in its new institutions and potential economic failure
as it was the case in Russia in the late 1990’s.
Resource Cures and the Transition to Democracy
In resource rich states, transition to democracy can be challenging. The resource curse is
notable in oil rich states especially those in The Middle East. In these states, such resources are a
major source of revenue for the government. If the state transitioned to democracy it could lead
to the privatization of the industry therefore the loss of revenue. In resource, rich societies, we
usually see a rentier state effect. In many cases these societies are run by repressive regimes.
Despite the lack of democracy, citizens of these nations have decent lives. Still the government
might be oppressive and un-democratic but its citizens have nothing to complain about. In these
type of systems democracy is a threat because if the society was to democratize the government
will most likely lose its revenue sources. In order for such regimes to maintain power they need
to keep their citizens happy by giving them thins like decent standards of living.
The resource curse is perhaps one of biggest obstacles in transitioning to democracy. In
these types of systems transitioning normally doesn’t happen because people are happy with the
status quo. Despite the good quality of life and the good things that such regime may provide,
behind all these good things there is still the repressive aspect of the movement. A notable
example of such state is Saudi Arabia. Punishments for violating laws go from lashing, long
prison terms, to executions by beheading. Punishments like lashing can be imposed without trial
simply for speaking up against Islam. There is no trial by jury or any protections like the ones
seen in western societies, yet people do not complain or rise up do to decent quality of life.

Economic Development and Democratic Failure in New Democracies

Bad economic development in new democracies could lead to the failing of it. After
transitioning from an authoritarian regime, especially those in which the government ran most or
all sectors of the economy like that of the Former Soviet Union, economic success if key for the
new democracy to survive. When transitioning from a socialist economy to a market economy
there can be multiple challenges. A notable example was Post-Soviet Russia in the late 1990’s.
While attempting to privatize assets that were once owned by the Soviet Government it led to a
major economic collapse. If in this process, the quality of life of citizens deteriorates under the
new system, people my want to revert to the old system when their quality of life was better.
Russia is a notable example of a new democracy failing due to lack of economic development.
After the economic crisis during the Yeltsin Administration, democracy in Russia began to fade
away. In 2000 Vladimir Putin came to power during hard economic times. Over a decade and a
half later he is still in power. During these time, he has worked on eroding the few democratic
values and institutions that post-Soviet Russia was able to develop and over the years become a
dictator. If such economic failure occurs in a new democracy, its citizens will most likely lose
their trust in the new system given the fact that everything is and if they feel that it is not
working or perhaps that things are worse than before, they might want to go back to the old
system were their quality of life was better but yet it lacks other freedoms. Studies show that
nations that have a 6,000 USD per capita GDP or higher tend to transition quicker to democracy
and help creates stability in existing ones.
“Post-Material Values” and democratic consolidation
Post material values rely on a strong democratic foundation. Democracy is a standard
aspect of post materialist societies. Once a society becomes post material, democracy is not at a
risk of failing and its citizens are not concerned about. In post Great Depression America, the
country became a materialist society. In this case democracy was not at risk because it has
existed for around a hundred and seventy years. During that time, material things such as living
wages, the ability to put food on the table, job security and the hope of economic prosperity were
important things to American society. During these time, other essential things such as public
services were deficient or absent. Trash might not have been collected, roads were a mess, water
and sewage services were deficient amongst other things.
In a post-materialist society, all these things are taken care of and citizens are not
concerned about these things failing. For people living in a post materialist society these things
have always been there and they expect them to always be there. Given that these things are not
cause for concern, people can focus on other issues. In post-materialist societies things like
technological advancements, civil rights such as LGBT rights, women’s rights, reproductive
rights, and environmental issues like renewable energy and reducing pollution are of greater
importance than having to worry about basic things. Post material values are more based on
morals than on basic necessities.

Functions of Civil Society in Democratic Consolidation

Civil society is an essential part of a functioning liberal democracy. According to
Putnam, civil society contributes with democratic consolidation because it is a mediator between
government citizens. It is also mentioned that civil society increase citizen participation in a
democracy. Forms of civil society that help mobilize people to political participation are interest
groups. These groups as such as The NRA that advocates for the protection of firearm owners,
and NARAL that advocates for the protection of reproductive rights. Groups like these help
generate interest in and mobilize political participation because they help in making their voices
heard. These types of groups normally endorse candidates who will help advance their causes if
elected and usually contribute by providing financial support to their campaigns. These types of
organizations also do other things like engaging in lobbying and work on influencing current
office holders. In democracies, these kinds of groups are usually a major if not the major way of
reaching out to citizen to enhance participation in the democratic process.
Other than promoting interest groups with a given political agenda, civil society has
functions like promoting tolerance, other forms of civic engagement, diversity and serve as a
check on the state. Civil society can be seen as a non-governmental check and balance. These
organizations help keep the government in check by actively engaging and keeping an eye for
movement over reach. Civil society in new democracies is crucial in keeping an eye for any
attempt by leaders to revert to authoritarianism and prevent the risk of sliding to a competitive
authoritarian system.

Essay Topic 2
New democracies, especially those who have recently transitioned to it after to it after
long periods of it being absent or perhaps with no previous existence, are prone to democratic
failure. After long periods without democracy, aspects and institutions of democracies such as
political parties and civil society do not exist. When transitioning from authoritarianism to
democracy, the systems of government that are usually adopted are Presidential or
Parliamentary. In most new democracies, the parliamentary system is usually adopted over a
presidential system. In ethnically divided societies especially those in which groups are
concentrated in large numbers in given regions, should opt for a Federal system over a Unitary
one.
 In a newly transitioned democracy, a presidential system may have multiple similarities
to that of the deposed authoritarian government. Although a presidential system does not
guarantee a new democracy to either fail or slip into competitive authoritarianism, it has a higher
chance than a parliamentary system to do so simply because of the nature of the system. Unlike a
parliamentary system in which the legislative and executive branches of the government are
essentially the same, in a presidential system those branches are separate and each have
respective powers. In a presidential system, the president is both the head of state and head of
government, gets elected by the people, and gets to appoint his/her own cabinet which is
independent the legislature. In ethnically divided societies, this type of system could be used to
oppress minorities because they might never get one elected to the presidency and unlike in
parliamentary systems, coalitions are not needed in the legislature in a presidential system which
can make parties composed of ethnic minorities irrelevant. Impeaching and removing an
authoritarian president in a new democracy, assuming the constitution allows for it could be very
difficult. With majorities in the legislature and no need to form government coalitions a president
who intends in becoming a dictator could use his/her power with the help of the legislature can
little by little chip away the few democratic institutions, and provisions such as term limits.
A parliamentary system gives democracy a higher chance of survival given that it easier
to remove a head of government who becomes abusive or attempts to become authoritarian than
in a presidential system. A vote of no confidence is quicker than impeachment. In an ethnically
divided society, a parliamentary system will give a higher chance to minority parties to be
involved in governments. Although those parties may not have enough seats to get the prime
minister’s office, if a coalition government was to be formed they will have a much higher
chance of getting a few things in their agendas done. They might even receive a cabinet position
from time to time.
Economic development and prosperity or the lack of it can determine the survival of new
democracies. Economic failure in new democracies is one of the biggest threats to its survival.
On notable example was the economic crisis in the mid 1990’s in post-Soviet Russia. Following
the dissolution of the Soviet Union its former members attempted transitioning to democracy.
Russia first post-Soviet President was Boris Yeltsin. During his time in office from 1991-1999.
Following reforms such as privatization of industries once owned by The Soviet Government
amongst other things lead to a crisis in the last years of the Yeltsin administration. The end of the
Yeltsin Administration also was in some way the beginning of democratic failure in The Russian
Federation. In 2000 Vladimir Putin became president. He has been in office ever since. However,
he had to step down a few years due to restrictions regarding consecutive terms. During that
period, his Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev served as president. For the more than decade and
a half since Putin has been in office, democratic values and the few institutions that existed since
the collapse of communism have either been completely eroded or are in the process of formally
disappearing. In recent years, persecution of political opponents, censoring of the press and
mysterious deaths of dissidents have occurred. Russia has slipped from a short-lived democracy
to competitive authoritarianism. Due to uncertainty under a new system along with the economic
decline of the 1990’s could have caused people losing trust in the new democratic system and
might Being an oil producing nation, the resource curse can also apply to The Russian
Federation.
The resource curse is most notorious in oil producing nations. Oil producing nations are
notorious for low scores. Notable examples of lack of democracy in such nations are The Nations
in The Arabian Peninsula, Libya, Syria, and Iraq. The Arabian Peninsula consists of Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, and gulf states of, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Oman. With the
exception of Yemen which is in the middle of a civil war, all the other states are absolute
monarchies which are de facto dictatorships. These nations saw brief uprisings during the Arab
Spring in 2011 but were quickly repressed. These nations produce roughly two thirds of the oil in
the market.
The biggest risk of failure in new democracies, seems to be the ability for a head of state
to consolidate power, get rid of democratic intuitions and laws protecting democracy, and still be
able to stay in power after all of these things occur. That’s why parliamentary systems are
preferable in new democracies. Being able to hold a leader accountable and having an option to
remove an individual with such tendencies from office insures that others do not attempt such
thing. If the society that is ethically divided and there are regions were one group predominates,
a federal system will be better rather than a unitary system because it will allow local control,
customs and traditions to be enforced and respected.
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