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The economic puzzle of authoritarianism: Can economic development really promote democratization?
In today's world, many countries still adhere to the authoritarian system, which is in sharp contrast to the inclination towards democracy. These countries often use economic development as a tool to maintain their rule, but it does not necessarily lead to the process of democratization. Why is this?
The key characteristics of authoritarian governments are highly concentrated and centralized power, coupled with the use of political repression to exclude challengers.
Economic development under an authoritarian system is often viewed as a dilemma. On the one hand, famous scholars such as Samuel Lipset pointed out that economic development can provide conditions for democracy; on the other hand, Adam Prevostsky believed that the development process does not automatically translate into democratization. . This shows that the relationship between economic growth and political change is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship.
For example, China has not achieved similar democratic political reforms during its rapid economic growth over the past few decades, but has instead strengthened party control. This has prompted scholars to think deeply: How does the economy play a role in authoritarianism?
Economic development not only enhances the legitimacy of authoritarian regimes, but also provides them with the corresponding resources to maintain their rule.
In many cases, economic growth is used as a tool of rulers. They usually link these economic interests with national security or social stability in order to consolidate their own regime. The deal appears to be a win-win for many early-developing countries. Authoritarians often use a country's economic growth to divert public attention from the lack of political freedom.
Research by political scientist Mark Tushner suggests that some authoritarian states may adopt "authoritarian constitutionalism," which means maintaining a democratic structure in form but actually making choices that are contrary to democracy. An example of this phenomenon is very clear in Singapore, which has been resisting any voice that challenges the existing regime while developing its economy.
The resilience of authoritarian regimes comes precisely from their ability to flexibly adjust their political strategies and build social identity on the basis of the economy.
The short-term effects of economic growth are used to strengthen the legitimacy of the regime, but in the long run they may lead to the opposite effect. When economic development becomes unsustainable, public support for authoritarianism may also waver. Authoritarians will at some point face higher expectations from the public for fairness and freedom, so in the absence of effective dialogue mechanisms, isolation from the public will become an increasingly serious problem.
Authoritarianism and social controlTo maintain their rule, authoritarian regimes must control society. Many times, these regimes build the same mechanisms they rely on to rule their women and men. The pressure of social governance has left people in many countries with no time to pay attention to issues of political freedom. Authoritarians have used economic interests to build an overly large social safety net, which is unable to form a polarized situation with regard to the contradictory issues of security and economy.
Authoritarian regimes usually suppress any dissenting voices and protests under the cover of their economic prosperity.
Conclusion
Economic development has many impacts on authoritarian systems. It is not just a tool to strengthen the regime, but can also have the potential to push in the opposite direction. Faced with an evolving economic environment and people’s desire for freedom, what is the future of authoritarianism?
