It can be considered axiomatic that newly established democratic governments often develop into autocracies unless particular conditions are present. Among the requirements that act as safeguards are a previous tradition of democracy by the state at some point in its history, other strongly democratic nations in the geographic vicinity, the failure of autocratic rule in the past to provide a high standard of living for the populace, a culture of tolerance and acceptance of minority groups, and the presence of non-state institutions to bolster democracy that are venerated by the country’s citizens. These conditions are not absolute and democracy may flourish at times when some of them are lacking and autocracy may evolve in spite of their existence.
The degree and form autocracies take are variable and sometimes a façade of democracy may remain to mask the true nature of the nation’s government. The amount of time needed for autocratic characteristics to emerge also differs from state to state. However, one feature universally noted in these states is the presence of corruption and kleptocracy. What is meant by this is that officials regularly steal from the state without concern of being punished. This is because their peers and superiors are engaged in similar conduct, including the top levels of elected officeholders. This provides protection from prosecution down the line. In many of these nations, special grants and powers are also bestowed by the government on friends and supporters of high elected officials, allowing these people to accumulate great wealth. The most affluent of these have become known as “oligarchs” who often partially own or direct government monopolies of natural resources, new technology, or media companies. These are all utilized to bolster the power of the nations’ ruling individual or groups.
Not all kleptocracies are fully autocratic states, but all autocracies manifest kleptocratic behavior. As examples on one end of the scale we have Japan and South Africa. Japan has been ruled almost continuously for the last half century by the Liberal Democratic Party which has given companies that support them contracts to build various infrastructure projects, nuclear reactors, utilities and so forth. The government also maintained high tariffs to protect their germinating industries and manipulated its currency to help with exports. A number of high party officials and bureaucrats received kickbacks and financial “gifts” for the help that was given to these corporations and the party was supported in electoral campaigns.
In South Africa, the African National Congress has been in power for twenty years, since the end of white rule. As the party controlling every level of the political process, a number of their members were given government contracts that made them wealthy and corruption has been widespread. In fact, the current president, Jacob Zuma, has built a magnificent estate with government money which he claimed was necessary to protect him. He and members of his family have become wealthy due to ANC largesse, and deals and contributions from supporters. However, with all the corruption and kleptocratic behavior in both Japan and South Africa, a semblance of democracy has remained in place, with citizens’ votes still able to change the government if the electorate is so inclined.
Turkey is a little bit further on the road to autocracy, with Prime Minister Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party firmly in control of the state, restricting personal freedoms, the Internet, and the media. In spite of obvious corruption involving Erdogan, his family, and party members, some incidents of which were caught on tape and broadcast throughout the country, the Justice and Development Party swept to victory in local elections at the end of March. The electorate kept Erdogan and his party in ascendency because they approved of his Islamist policies and refused to believe the charges of corruption in spite of their being widely publicized. And in a demonstration of power, prosecutors and the judicial authorities investigating the charges against Erdogan and his coterie were dismissed from their positions, a blatant autocratic action. Democracy in Turkey is being subverted because of the ignorance of the voters and their unwillingness to condemn Erdogan’s conduct and responsibility for the suppression of freedom and individual rights.
At the far end of the spectrum, complete transition from democracy to autocracy has occurred in a number of African states, the most prominent being Zimbabwe under the aegis of Robert Mugabe and Angola ruled by Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Several others can be said to be verging on total autocracy including Uganda controlled by Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda ruled by Paul Kagame. Venezuela in South America can also be considered an autocratic state, first controlled by Hugo Chavez and now by his successor Nicolas Maduro. The most important nation that has evolved into autocracy from democracy is of course Russia, dominated by Vladimir Putin. His control of the entire political system and the media has grown greater over the last decade, and his hold on the government appears ironclad. Ukraine under Viktor Yanukovich had also transitioned from a democracy to autocracy before Yanukovich was overthrown recently by a people’s revolution and forced to flee to Russia. However, it is unclear how the Ukraine will develop in the future and whether democracy or autocracy will predominate.
If the populace of any nation does not pay careful attention to the values and policies of the candidates running for office, what they say and how they act, democracy in that nation is in trouble. It is true for developed nations as well as in nascent democracies.
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
Political junkie, Vietnam vet, neurologist- three books on aging and dementia. Book on health care reform in 2009- Shock Therapy for the American Health Care System. Book on the need for a centrist third party- Resurrecting Democracy- A Citizen’s Call for a Centrist Third Party published in 2011. Aging Wisely, published in August 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. Latest book- The Uninformed Voter published May 2020