Competitive authoritarianism, informational authoritarianism, and the development of dictatorship: a case study of Belarus

This article explores the dynamics of modern authoritarian regimes, using Belarus under Alexander Lukashenko as a case study. By examining Belarus's transition from a competitive authoritarian regime to a hegemonic authoritarian one from 1994 to 1996 and its further shift from a spin dictatorship to a fear dictatorship in 2020, the study offers insights into the multifaceted nature of dictatorships. The main findings are that using elections as a means to classify regimes does not fully explain their effect on authoritarian vulnerability and that different classifications of dictatorship, such as spin versus fear, are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Automated summary

This article examines the dynamics of modern authoritarian regimes, using Belarus as a case study. By studying the transition of Belarus from a competitive authoritarian regime to a hegemonic authoritarian regime, and its further shift from a spin dictatorship to a fear dictatorship, the study reveals the multifaceted nature of dictatorships. The main findings suggest that using elections as a means to classify regimes does not fully explain their impact on authoritarian vulnerability, and different classifications of dictatorship, such as spin versus fear, are not necessarily mutually exclusive.