Authoritarianism

A Very Short Introduction

By: James Loxton

Narrated by: Grant Cartwright

Authoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It considers how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton examines the life cycle of authoritarian regimes. How are they born? What challenges do they face during life? Why do they die? The author shows how factors such as natural resource wealth and cross-border collaboration can contribute to authoritarian durability. He also highlights the disturbing fact that even when authoritarian regimes collapse, voters often use their newfound democratic rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.

©2024 James Loxton (P)2025 Tantor Media

Should be required reading

The timing of this book couldn’t be better. It puts a name to what we’re living right now, and explains the patterns that get us here time and again. Every High Schooler should read this, and everyone else should read it too.

The narration is also great, though the pronunciation of “junta” with a hard “j” sounds funny to my Chicago ears. :)