New Books Network How Do Autocrats Stay in Power: A Discussion with Johannes Gerschewski
May 27, 2025
In this discussion, Johannes Gerschewski, a research fellow at the WZB, delves into how autocrats maintain power through the strategies of hyper-politicization and de-politicization. He examines the delicate balance between repression and legitimacy, drawing parallels to contemporary U.S. politics and the looming figure of Trump. Gerschewski also critiques the usefulness of the term 'fascist' today while exploring how autocracies evolve, especially in East Asia, revealing the complex interplay between democratic values and rising authoritarianism.
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Three Core Autocratic Tasks
- Autocratic regimes must perform three tasks for survival: co-opt key elites, repress dissent, and gain popular legitimacy. - These tasks target threats from elites, opposition, and the people to create regime certainty.
Two Logics of Autocratic Rule
- Autocrats maintain power through two main logics: over-politicization and depoliticization. - Over-politicization mobilizes people through ideology and harsh repression, while depoliticization keeps people passive, using performance legitimation and softer repression.
Real Cases of Autocratic Logics
- North Korea, Vietnam, and Mao's China exemplify over-politicization with strong ideology and harsh repression. - Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia show depoliticization by focusing on economic growth and using softer repression.