How do non-democratic states maintain authority amongst their populations?
Write an analytical essay that establishes a theoretical baseline and then develop the concept using empirical examples, drawn either from the course readings, the documentaries we’ve watched in previous weeks, or other documentaries listed below.
Topic: How do non-democratic states maintain authority amongst their populations?
For this question, you will want to consider the various modes of authoritarian governance [cooptation, violence & surveillance, ideology, personality cult]
Good theoretical works to start with:
De Mesquita and Smith, Schedler, Gerchewski
Good places for examples: Fahy, Slater, Fifeld, Zerofsky, Documentaries on Saudi Arabia, North Korea
Papers should be 5-7 pages, with an additional works cited page. Make sure to cite all evidence used. Please use APA style for citation formatting .
Paper should have a thesis statement, a coherent line of logic, and ample use of specific examples.
Please incorporate material in the essay and examples from the reading to show understanding as well as the documentaries to explain topic . Please make sure to go back and re read material to explain specifically with specific details .[unique_solution]
Other than the new documentaries, you should do no additional research for this paper. Please use in text citations and use every source listed below in the citation page as well. No additional sources needed!
Theoretical Material
- De Mesquita & Smith The Dictator’s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
- Andreas Schedler, “Authoritarianism’s Last Line of Defense”
- Johannes Gerschewski, “The Three Pillars of Stability: Legitimation, repression
- Francis Fukuyama (1989), “The End of History,” The National Interest, No, Summer 1989, 3-18
Applied Materials: Readings
- Sandra Fahy, Marching Through Suffering: Loss and Survival in North Korea
- Dan Slater, “Iron Cage in an Iron Fist: Authoritarians Institutions and the Personalization of Power in Malaysia”
- Anna Fifield, “Life Under Kim Jung Un,” The Washington Post,
- Elisabeth Zerofsky, “Viktor Orbán’s Far-Right Vision for Europe,” The New Yorker
Documentaries previously assigned:
Secret State of North Korea: (Frontline: not available in Australia)
https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-secret-state-north-korea/
Is Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Consolidating Power? Inside Story (al Jazeera)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4kvg48igwU
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (Frontline: sorry, Megan. It’s so good)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IBa88VkM6g