Dictators and Dictatorships: Understanding Authoritarian Regimes and Their Leaders

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Dictators and Dictatorships is a qualitative enquiry into the politics of authoritarian regimes. It argues that political outcomes in dictatorships are largely a product of leader-elite relations. Differences in the internal structure of dictatorships affect the dynamics of this relationship. This book shows how dictatorships differ from one another and the implications of these differences for political outcomes. In particular, it examines political processes in personalist, military, single-party, monarchic, and hybrid regimes. The aim of the book is to provide a clear definition of what dictatorship means, how authoritarian politics works, and what the political consequences of dictatorship are. It discusses how authoritarianism influences a range of political outcomes, such as economic performance, international conflict, and leader and regime durability. Numerous case studies from around the world support the theory and research presented to foster a better understanding of the inner workings of authoritarian regimes. By combining theory with concrete political situations, the book will appeal to undergraduate students in comparative politics, international relations, authoritarian politics, and democratization.

Reviews

"It is becoming increasingly clear that many of the world's autocracies are not going to succumb to a new wave of democratization anytime soon. To understand how and why authoritarianism persists, Dictators and Dictatorships offers a thorough and thoughtful look into the politics of autocratic survival strategies." - Lisa Blaydes, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Stanford University.
Dictators and Dictatorships provides an admirable synthesis and extension of the growing literature on the politics of authoritarian regimes. In clear and accessible language, Ezrow and Frantz examine both classic and cutting-edge scholarship on dictatorships. They argue that elite politics in dictatorships have important consequences for a host of outcomes, and apply this insight to questions such as the causes of authoritarianism, regime longevity, leader survival, economic growth, and international conflict. The arguments are illustrated with countless real-world examples from around the world. Combining a thorough discussion of the existing literature with new insights, this book will not only be an excellent resource for students, but also for scholars looking for an introduction to the literature on the causes, consequences, and future of authoritarianism. - Jessica L. Weeks, Department of Government, Cornell University
"Dictators and Dictatorships provides an excellent overview of authoritarian regimes in the contemporary era. Frantz and Ezrow adopt the extremely useful typology of authoritarian regimes developed by Barbara Geddes to provide a comprehensive treatment of politics in single-party, military, and personalist authoritarian regimes. This book ranges widely to explain the origins and breakdown of these regimes and their distinctive domestic and foreign policies. The broad outlines of the argument are brought to life by illuminating stories about dozens of authoritarian regimes from every part of the globe. I can think of few better introductions to this important topic for upper division courses in comparative politics." -Mark Peceny, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, University of New Mexico

Author Bio

Natasha Ezrow is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the University of Essex, UK, where she serves as the Director of the International Development Studies Program. With Erica Frantz, she co-authored The Politics of Dictatorships (2011) and Dictators and Dictatorships (2011). Erica Frantz is an Assistant Professor at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. With Natasha Ezrow, she co-authored The Politics of Dictatorships (2011) and Dictators and Dictatorships (2011). Her work has been presented at the American Political Science Association and the Midwest Political Science Association Conferences.