Understanding what authoritarianism is | University of Amsterdam | Political Science Department

Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research
12 Sept 201803:05
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe script discusses the unrealized dreams following the fall of the Berlin Wall, highlighting the rise of China, the failure of the Arab Spring, and democratic backsliding in countries like Russia and Turkey. It emphasizes the challenges facing democracy, including fake news and digital surveillance. The script explains that authoritarian practices, such as lying to the public and silencing dissent, can occur in democracies and with corporate involvement. It calls for understanding these practices in varied contexts to counter them effectively. For more insights into authoritarian practices, the script directs viewers to further research.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 Many viewed the fall of the Berlin Wall as the start of a free world.
  • 🇺🇸 The United States was seen as the victor of the Cold War.
  • 🗳️ It was expected that all countries would embrace democracy.
  • 💻 The internet was anticipated to spread information and weaken dictatorships.
  • ❌ These aspirations have not materialized.
  • 🇨🇳 China has risen as a dominant power, and the Arab Spring did not succeed.
  • 🇷🇺🇹🇷 Countries like Russia and Turkey have moved away from democracy.
  • 📰 Even in the West, free media and independent judiciaries are under pressure.
  • 📱 While the internet increased access to information, it also brought fake news and extensive digital surveillance.
  • ⚠️ Many people are now concerned about the rise of authoritarianism.
  • 🔍 Political scientists can help us understand authoritarianism and its links to populism and xenophobia.
  • 🗳️ Understanding authoritarianism requires looking beyond elections.
  • 🌍 States should not be seen as strictly democratic or authoritarian; we should study authoritarian practices.
  • 🔒 Authoritarian practices can occur within democracies, through state collaborations, or with corporate assistance.
  • 🚫 These practices aim to sabotage accountability by lying or keeping secrets without legitimate reasons.
  • 📱 The NSA, with help from other secret agencies, spied on millions using data from major tech companies.
  • 🛑 Another way to sabotage accountability is by silencing critical voices.
  • 📰 In democracies like India and Mexico, journalists and activists are often found dead after criticizing those in power.
  • 🌐 Governments like Iran and Syria use the internet to harass and silence critics, even beyond their borders.
  • 🔎 Understanding authoritarian practices helps us see their function in various contexts and how to counter them.
Q & A

  • What event is considered by many as the beginning of a free world?

    -The fall of the Berlin Wall is considered by many as the beginning of a free world.

  • Which country is mentioned as having won the Cold War?

    -The United States is mentioned as having won the Cold War.

  • What was the initial expectation regarding the spread of democracy after the Cold War?

    -The initial expectation was that all countries would embrace democracy.

  • How was the Internet expected to influence political systems post-Cold War?

    -The Internet was expected to spread information and undermine dictatorships.

  • What has been the reality regarding the spread of democracy and the role of the Internet as compared to the initial expectations?

    -The reality has been that these dreams have not come true, with the rise of authoritarian practices and issues like fake news and digital surveillance.

  • Which countries are mentioned as having moved away from democracy?

    -Russia and Turkey are mentioned as countries that have moved away from democracy.

  • What challenges are faced by free media and independent judiciaries in the West?

    -Free media and independent judiciaries in the West are under pressure, suggesting that they can no longer be taken for granted.

  • How has the Internet affected people's access to information, and what are the associated problems?

    -While the Internet has increased access to information, it has also brought about issues like fake news and digital surveillance.

  • What is the role of authoritarianism in the context of the script?

    -Authoritarianism is presented as a concern that is not limited to dictatorships but also affects democracies and involves practices that sabotage accountability.

  • What are the two main ways authoritarian practices sabotage accountability according to the script?

    -The two main ways are lying to the public or keeping secrets without a legitimate reason, and disabling voice, often through harassment or silencing of critics.

  • What does the script suggest about the collaboration of states and corporate actors in authoritarian practices?

    -The script suggests that authoritarian practices can occur not only within states but also through collaboration between several states or with the help of corporate actors.

  • What is the importance of understanding authoritarianism as a practice rather than a state of being?

    -Understanding authoritarianism as a practice allows us to recognize how it functions in various settings, including democracies, transnational contexts, and with corporate involvement, and to identify when it thrives and how it can be countered.

  • What does the script suggest as a way to learn more about authoritarian practices and related research?

    -The script suggests visiting a provided link to learn more about authoritarian practices and what research can tell us about them.

Outlines
00:00
🌐 The Illusion of a Free World

This paragraph discusses the shattered dream of a universally democratic world following the fall of the Berlin Wall, which was initially seen as a victory for the United States and the spread of democracy. It highlights the rise of authoritarianism in countries like China, the failure of the Arab Spring, and the regression from democracy in Russia and Turkey. The paragraph also addresses the challenges to free media and independent judiciaries in the West, the proliferation of fake news, and the issues of digital surveillance. It emphasizes the need to understand authoritarianism beyond elections and to recognize its practices within democratic states, through collaboration between states, or with corporate involvement, focusing on sabotaging accountability through lying and silencing dissent.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989, during the Cold War. Its fall in 1989 is often seen as a symbol of the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era of freedom and democracy. In the video, the fall of the Berlin Wall is mentioned as a starting point for the expectation that all countries would embrace democracy.
💡Cold War
The Cold War refers to the period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc, after World War II. It is called a 'cold' war because it did not escalate into a full-scale war between the two superpowers. In the video, the United States is said to have won the Cold War, implying a victory for democracy and capitalism.
💡Democracy
Democracy is a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. It is often associated with freedom, equality, and protection of minority rights. The script discusses the idea that the fall of the Berlin Wall would lead to a world where all countries would embrace democracy, but this has not come to fruition as expected.
💡Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite to communicate. It is a major source of information and communication. In the video, the Internet is initially presented as a tool that would spread information and undermine dictatorships, but it is also noted that it has come with issues such as fake news and digital surveillance.
💡Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by strong central authority and limited political freedoms. The video discusses the rise of authoritarian practices, which are not only present in dictatorships but also in democracies and transnational settings, and how they can be countered.
💡Populism
Populism is a political approach that seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. The video suggests that understanding authoritarianism also involves looking at related tendencies such as populism, which can sometimes lead to or be associated with authoritarian practices.
💡Xenophobia
Xenophobia is the fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange. The script mentions xenophobia as another tendency that might be related to authoritarianism, suggesting that these concepts are interconnected in the political landscape.
💡Accountability
Accountability is the obligation of an individual or organization to report on the usage of public resources or the responsible exercise of their duties. The video describes how authoritarian practices aim to sabotage accountability, either through lying to the public or keeping secrets without legitimate reason.
💡Surveillance
Surveillance refers to the monitoring of behavior, activities, or other changing information for the purpose of information gathering. The script mentions digital surveillance as a downside of increased access to information through the Internet, with examples of mass spying programs by agencies like the NSA.
💡Transnational
Transnational refers to activities and processes that cross national boundaries. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe how authoritarian practices can occur not only within individual states but also across borders, involving multiple states or corporate actors.
💡Corporate Actors
Corporate actors are entities such as large multinational corporations that have significant economic and sometimes political influence. The video mentions corporate actors as potential collaborators in authoritarian practices, indicating that they can play a role in undermining accountability and freedom.
Highlights

The fall of the Berlin Wall was seen as the start of a free world.

The United States was perceived to have won the Cold War.

There was an expectation that all countries would embrace democracy.

The internet was anticipated to spread information and undermine dictatorships.

These dreams of universal democracy and information freedom have not come true.

China has emerged as a dominant power.

The Arab Spring failed to bring lasting democratic change.

Countries like Russia and Turkey have moved away from democracy.

Even in the West, a free media is no longer guaranteed.

Independent judiciaries are under pressure in many parts of the world.

The internet, while increasing access to information, has also facilitated fake news and surveillance.

Many people are increasingly worried about authoritarianism.

Political scientists study authoritarianism to understand its relation to populism and xenophobia.

Authoritarian practices can occur within democracies and through international collaborations.

These practices often aim to sabotage accountability through lying and silencing dissent.

The NSA's surveillance program, aided by tech companies, is an example of secretive authoritarian practices.

In democracies like India and Mexico, journalists and activists face lethal reprisals.

Authoritarian governments harass critics globally using the internet.

Understanding authoritarianism as a practice helps identify its presence in various political systems.

Transcripts

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AuthoritarianismDemocracyCold WarInternetSurveillanceFake NewsChinaArab SpringPress FreedomJudiciaryPopulismXenophobia