Dizionario di Politica

Authors: Bobbio, Matteucci, Pasquino
Summary: This 7,230-word entry treats authoritarianism first as an ideology, then as a psychological attitude, and finally as a regime. As an ideology, authoritarianism denies equality among human beings. It emphasizes hierarchy, disdains democracy, and praises the authoritarian personality. The political principle at which it aims is order. According to the entry, modern authoritarian thought arose as a 19th-century reaction against liberal and democratic ideology. Its chief exponent was Heinrich Treitschke (1834-1896), who cited hereditary monarchy the best form of government-"best" because it is best able to represent the inequalities inherent in human nature and in society.
The entry then turns to authoritarianism as a psychological attitude. Such an attitude has two components: zealous obedience to and admiration for superiors, and contempt for subordinates. The most influential scholar on this topic is Theodor Adorno, who explored authoritarianism as a complex of subjection and aggression. But, the entry observes, Adorno's analysis neglects the importance of social and political factors on shaping attitudes.
As a political system, authoritarianism can be understood as a regime that privileges the act of command rather than the act of consent, and as a regime that concentrates political power in one man or political organ rather than representative institutions.
Finally, the entry considers the difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism. The main difference consists in the regime's degree of penetration and political mobilization: with an authoritarian regime, such penetration and mobilization are limited, and there is a demarcation between State and society. By contrast, with a totalitarian regime there is a high level of political mobilization and little autonomy on the part of political sub-systems (parties, syndicates, pressure groups).