In societies where democratic institutions are ossified and elites seem far removed from the lives of citizens, populist authoritarians may offer appealing alternatives. They promise to directly and quickly solve people’s problems, and they often justify a series of restrictions on democratic forms of governance. For example, they might limit the duration of electoral terms, or eliminate them altogether. They might allow referenda on a broad range of issues, or even use them to extend the power of their own offices. In addition, they may scapegoat particular groups of people (for example, Hitler demonized Jews as a separate and inferior race, or Viktor Orban targets George Soros, a Jewish philanthropist).
Those who are able to seize control of a country will use a variety of tactics to fortify their hold on power. They will seek to impose their authority by any means at their disposal, including a total lack of tolerance for opposition, stifling civil society, demonizing enemies, and controlling the economy and governing through the state.
Autocracy is a form of rule in which one person has unlimited power. While these regimes might include judiciaries and legislatures, they tend to be dominated by the dictator’s party and often report to him or her directly. In some cases, they might remove the checks and balances on their power by filling key institutions with people who are loyal to them.
A number of scholars have attempted to understand why some people are predisposed to support authoritarian systems of government. They have pointed to psychological traits, such as a general tendency to submit to authority and a rigid cognitive style, that make some people more amenable to nondemocratic forms of leadership.
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