The Social Science Encyclopedia

Authors: Kuper & Kuper
Summary: In slightly less than 500 words, this entry defines authoritarianism, describes different forms of authoritarian rule, discusses the relationship between despotism and penetration, and concludes by briefly mentioning some scholarly debates about the concept.
An authoritarian system is one where political power is concentrated among a small elite who are not accountable to their citizens. Authoritarian rule may be military or civilian, and political power may be exercised through an organized party or an individual. The entry identifies despotism and penetration as important dimensions that distinguish different authoritarian systems. Despotism is the unrestrained, capricious use of political power, and penetration is the degree to which the authoritarian state intrudes into everyday life. Totalitarian states, with extremely high levels of penetration, are at one end of the scale; at the other end are one-party dictatorships.
Historically, the rise of states has been accompanied by a corresponding rise in authoritarian systems. In fact, it was originally through authoritarian practices that states formed. Not until the eighteenth century did states start distinguishing themselves based upon their degree of accountability. This process eventually led to the rise of democracy in England and France.
The entry concludes by identifying several debates among social scientists about authoritarian systems. One set of debates concerns the rise of democracy and the consolidation of authoritarian rule in fascist and communist forms. Two other often debated issues are why some democracies evolve into authoritarian systems and, conversely, why some authoritarian systems evolve into more liberal political systems