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History

Varieties of Authoritarianism and Regime Survival Strategies

Quick fact

Authoritarian regimes that institutionalize their rule with a strong ruling party are often more stable than personalist dictatorships, because they provide a mechanism for managing elite conflict and distributing patronage.

Why this is interesting

You might think of dictatorships as all the same, but they are not. Some hold elections, some are run by military officers, and some by a single all-powerful leader—how does this variation affect their chances of staying in power?