Knowra Competitive authoritarianism Competitive authoritarianism Competitive authoritarianism is a regime in which opposition parties and elections exist, but incumbents systematically abuse state power and violate democratic rules to disadvantage their rivals.
Uneven playing field : A political environment in which state resources, media access, or legal protections favor one side over its rivals. Incumbents use these advantages to compete without eliminating opposition or elections.
Steven Levitsky : An American political scientist whose research examines party systems, authoritarianism, and democratic erosion. Levitsky helped formulate competitive authoritarianism as a distinct regime category.
Serbia under Slobodan Milošević : The Serbian regime led by Slobodan Milošević from the late 1980s until his removal in 2000. Opposition parties and elections persisted, while state resources and media favored Milošević’s rule.
Liberal democracy : A democratic system with competitive elections, civil liberties, rule of law, and effective limits on government power. Unlike competitive authoritarianism, liberal democracy protects the rules and rights that make electoral rivalry fair.
Electoral authoritarianism : A regime that holds multiparty elections while restricting political competition enough to undermine democratic accountability. Competitive authoritarianism is a particularly contested form of electoral authoritarian rule.
Lucan Way : A political scientist who studies authoritarianism, democratization, and post-Soviet politics. Way co-developed the concept to explain regimes where opposition competition persists under severe incumbent abuse.
Peru under Alberto Fujimori : The Peruvian government led by Alberto Fujimori from 1990 to 2000, marked by elections and increasing executive control. Fujimori’s government combined electoral competition with coercion and manipulation of state institutions.
Closed authoritarian regime : A political system that bars meaningful opposition from competing for national power. Competitive authoritarianism permits real opposition contests rather than eliminating them altogether.
State capture : The systematic redirection of public institutions and policymaking toward the interests of powerful private or political actors. Capturing state institutions can turn public authority into an incumbent’s campaign advantage.
Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War : A 2010 book by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way analyzing competitive authoritarian regimes after the Cold War. The book provides the framework’s fullest comparative account and identifies its defining arenas of contestation.
Show all 20