The Concerning Rise Of Authoritarianism In 21st Century: Is Authoritarianism On The Rise?

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, most experts believed that the world would shift towards liberal democracies and oppressive authoritarianism would become a thing of the past. However, in the decades following the end of the Cold War, it seems that the gradual rise of authoritarianism around the world tells a different story. In many democracies around the world, oppressive regimes have risen to power, violating the fundamental principles of democracy. In this blog, we will be discussing the concerning and widespread rise of authoritarianism in 21st century governments, both in democratic societies and in non-democratic regimes. It also helps in answering the question that has remained prevalent ever since the dawn of the 21st century, ‘Is authoritarianism on the rise around the world?’

Authoritarianism Meaning

Before we discuss the rise of authoritarianism in 21st century politics, let us learn what the word ‘authoritarianism’ means. 

The term ‘authoritarianism’ refers to a form of government that rejects political plurality. It is characterised by excessive centralisation of administration and strips away the public’s participatory rights in the day-to-day administration of the government. Authoritarian regimes are concerned with the concentration of power in as few hands as possible. The government is not constitutionally responsible to the people, and even with a constitution in place, its values tend to be overstepped by the government. 

The traditional authoritarianism meaning equated authoritarian regimes with oppressive absolute monarchies and military dictatorships; authoritarianism in the 21st century is much more subtle. 

Is Authoritarianism On The Rise Around The World?

In some countries around the world, there has been a rise in repressive regimes that either exploit the loopholes in their constitution or ignore the provisions of the constitutions altogether. Major democracy monitoring organisations like V-Dem and Freedom House suggest that authoritarianism is on the rise globally. For the first time in hundreds of years, the number of people living in countries moving towards authoritarianism is greater than the number of people living in countries moving towards democracy. 

The rise of authoritarianism in Europe in the first half of the 20th century is an entirely different story when compared to today’s rise in authoritarianism. Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Ceau?escu, and others took power via forced seizure, but today’s authoritative leaders choose subtle ways of control. 

Earlier, authoritarianism arose because of violent military movements and bloodshed, but in today’s day and age, the new method of control for authoritarian regimes is known as ‘democratic backsliding.’ In this process, democratically elected leaders slowly weaken the institutions that keep a democracy alive, like the media, legislature, and judiciary. 

The rise of authoritarianism around the world is driven by various catalysts, including economic inequality, a backlash against globalisation, growing nationalist sentiments, a staunch opposition to immigration, the use of social media to spread politically motivated misinformation, and the belief that democratic governments are too slow. 

Democratic Backsliding Meaning And Examples

The term ‘democratic backsliding’ refers to the gradual state-led weakening of democratic institutions, norms, and processes by elected officials. It represents a decline in democratic quality, which signals a country’s shift towards authoritarianism without necessarily requiring a sudden coup. Key signs of democratic backsliding include attacks on the press and journalists, weakening checks and balances, restricting civil liberties, and undermining electoral integrity. 

What we discussed was the traditional democratic backsliding meaning. Let us look at some examples of countries that are experiencing democratic backsliding. 

• Hungary under Viktor Orban: 

Many people consider the Orban administration in Hungary to be a classic modern blueprint of the rise of authoritarianism in Europe in the 21st century. Orban has used his influence to rewrite the constitution, dominate the media landscape, and curtail the judiciary’s independence, thereby increasing his government’s hold over the country. 

• India under Narendra Modi: 

Although India is considered the world’s largest democracy, international observers have raised concerns about the growing intolerance of political dissent in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The rise of nationalistic rhetoric to appeal to the majority and marginalise minority groups has also been criticised by democracy monitoring organisations. 

• Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdogan: 

Turkey is a classic example of the rise of authoritarianism in 21st century Middle-Eastern political sphere. Turkey used to be a parliamentary democracy, but under Erdogan, most of the executive powers have been unconstitutionally concentrated in the hands of the president. The government has carried out several purges in the civil service and judiciary following a coup attempt in 2016. 

• El Salvador under Nayib Bukele: 

President Nayib Bukele has practiced an ‘iron fist’ approach to crime in El Salvador. Despite gaining massive popularity for his anti-crime approach, it has also led to incarcerations without due legal procedures. It has also led to the military being deployed into the legislative assembly to pressure lawmakers. 

• Tunisia under Kais Saied:

 You would think that democratic backsliding would never happen in Tunisia again after the Arab Spring revolution of 2011, but that is not the case. President Kais Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and moved to ruling by decree, effectively regressing the country to the time of Ben Ali’s repressive rule. 

• Russia (Vladimir Putin) and China (Xi Jinping): 

While Russia and China have been authoritarian for a long time and have even embraced totalitarianism from time to time, the current situation indicates that authoritarianism is only growing in those countries. With the removal of term limits for both President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary Xi Jinping, it seems like the governments are trying to concentrate power within a few hands for as long as possible. 

Authoritarianism Vs Totalitarianism: A Comparison

Some people often mistake totalitarianism for being the same thing as authoritarianism. However, both these terms are different in meaning. While totalitarian regimes are always authoritarian, authoritarian regimes aren’t always totalitarian. Here is a simple authoritarianism vs totalitarianism comparison for better understanding. 

Feature	Authoritarianism	Totalitarianism
Core Goal	Maintenance of power and political stability	Total transformation of society and the individual
Ideology	Often lacking a complex ideology, it relies on mentalities such as patriotism, order, and nationalism	Driven by a mandatory, all-encompassing official ideology
Political Pluralism	Limited, as some non-political groups are allowed to exist if they don’t challenge the leader	Zero, as the state or single party controls every aspect of public or private life
Mobilisation	Low, because the regime prefers a passive, apolitical, and quiet citizenry	High, because of constant forced participation in rallies, parades, and youth groups
Control of the Economy	Often allows private ownership and participation in the market as long as the elites benefit	The state directs economic production aligned with ideological goals
Use Of Terror	Terror is used against specific political opponents or ‘troublemakers.’	Terror is used indiscriminately to keep the entire population in a state of constant fear
Media and Information	The state suppresses ‘bad’ news and critical voices through censorship	The state uses excessively monopolised media where independent parties don’t get to practice
Example Regimes	Chile under Augusto Pinochet, Spain under Francisco Franco, present-day Kazakhstan, etc.	Nazi Germany, USSR under Joseph Stalin, North Korea under the Kim dynasty, etc.

Which Countries Are Becoming Police States?

A common term associated with authoritarianism and totalitarianism is ‘police state.’ The term ‘police state’ refers to a government that exercises rigid and repressive control over the social, economic, and political life of its population. Unlike a standard democracy, where the police are a tool for public safety governed by the rule of law, in a police state, the police serve as an instrument of the regime to maintain order and enforce power through force. 

Political analysts and human rights groups have tracked countries that are experiencing democratic backsliding to check whether or not these countries are transitioning to becoming police states. Here are some countries that are suspected of transitioning into police states. 

• China: 

The People’s Republic of China is considered to be the 21st century’s best example of a police state aside from North Korea. Its social credit system, mass surveillance, and tight control over the media signal a sharp rise of authoritarianism in 21st century Chinese politics. 

• Russia: 

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government has increased the use of facial recognition to arrest protesters and has passed laws that effectively criminalise any criticism of the state’s and military’s actions in Ukraine. 

• India:

 Critics have pointed out that the increasing use of internet shutdowns and the use of anti-terror laws to detain activists without trial are essentially signs that India is slowly transitioning to becoming a police state. 

• Turkey:

 With Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rise to power and the 2016 coup attempt, the government of Turkey has maintained a tight hold on power through mass surveillance and has purged thousands of civil servants, journalists, and academics. 

• El Salvador: 

El Salvador has enacted a brutal crackdown on gangs and drug cartels within its borders. Because of this conflict, the government has suspended constitutional rights, leading to mass incarcerations without due process. Although the government is popular among the citizens for reducing crime, its activities fit the traditional definition of a police state. 

• Myanmar: 

Ever since the 2021 military coup, the state of Myanmar has been locked in a brutal, perpetual war and has effectively turned into a police state. The military junta often uses violent force and total surveillance to maintain its chokehold on the country. 

What Can People Do About The Rise Of Authoritarianism Around The World?

The rise of authoritarianism in 21st century politics is concerning; however, it is not something that we as citizens can do nothing about. Here are some things that the common man and woman can do to combat the rise of authoritarianism around the world in the modern political sphere. 

• Strengthen Digital Sovereignty:

 In a world of increasing digital surveillance, privacy is the best defense against total government control. People can utilise end-to-end encrypted messaging and VPNs to bypass government controls in authoritarian regimes and build networks of fellow citizens who wish to resist the government. 

• Civic Engagement and ‘Institutional Defense’: 

Authoritarianism thrives when public institutions like the court, the press, and public councils are ignored. People can support independent journalists and human rights organisations who challenge the unconstitutional policies of the government. 

• Build Parallel Structures: 

Parallel societies can help sustain the community in repressive regimes. Building community-led systems for food, healthcare, and education reduces people’s dependence on state-sponsored provisions that might be underfunded or laced with prejudice. 

• International Solidarity: 

Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes often survive because of isolation from the international community. The people can pressure international democracies and rights organisations to apply sanctions or diplomatic pressure on states that suppress their own citizens, which might carve a path to freedom for the people living under oppressive regimes. 

Conclusion

Authoritarianism and totalitarianism have persisted for a long time, far longer than they should have. However, in today’s day and age, authoritarianism should have no place. Gone are the days when people just silently accepted all sorts of political insanities meant to control them. In today’s age of free thinking and expression, people should take a stance and prevent the rise of authoritarianism in 21st century politics before it’s too late. Always remember one thing: the rise of authoritarianism in European politics in the early 20th century led to unprecedented bloodshed, the likes of which humanity has never experienced. Take that as a warning sign and work together as people to prevent authoritarianism from ever infiltrating the modern political sphere.