Electoral process in Authoritarian Regimes: ‘The Dictator’s Dilemma’
Dear Students:
This is a qualitative research assignment ‘case study’, write an executive summary examining your critical thinking by comparing electoral process in Authoritarian regimes. Consider the ‘Dictator’s Dilemma for Governing’ and ‘Regime Change’ for nations that have been under Communism, Dictatorship or Theocratic rule with authoritarian rule. Describe how the ‘electoral process’ works and affects the governing regime rule.
Case Study: N. Korea vs Iran
Mission: See Module III Supplemental Links, Textbook and utilize online resources to complete this assignment/case study. Please evaluate and define the institutional principles of one Case Study: “N. Korea vs Iran” or “China vs Russia” as Regimes with electoral process. Through your own critical and comprehensive analysis you can make a comparison and detect the similarities and differences that these two nations have as Authoritarian regimes and reflecting on the ‘Dictator’s Dilemma’.
Guidelines to Consider for your Research:
Why has Putin preserved the trappings of democracy rather than creating a purely authoritarian regime? Can you use the theories of why dictators allow institutions to survive to explain Putin’s actions? What do recent trends suggest for the future stability and success of Putin’s regime?
Recent trends have suggested that the quasi-democratic elements of Iran’s governing institutions are relatively weak. Nonetheless, how might they help the top Iranian leadership overcome the dictator’s dilemma that all authoritarian regimes face?What does Iran’s history suggest about the relative importance of repression, co-optation, and legitimacy for the survival of authoritarian regimes?Can the theories that explain the durability of electoral authoritarian regimes be applied to Iran’s theocratic regime? How much do they help us explain Iran?
What does China’s succession system suggest about the relationship between personal power, succession, and regime survival in authoritarian regimes?The Chinese government has allowed participation and criticism at the local level in various ways but repressed it firmly at the national level. Can you use the idea of the dictator’s dilemma to explain this pattern of behavior?How can the theories of authoritarian rule outlined earlier in the chapter be used to explain the durability of China’s regime?
Considering the Dynastic Dictatorship of North Korea and Supreme Leadership, how does the electoral process within the regime functions and represents the people? What’s the Dictator’s Dilemma for N. Korea?
