An authoritarian regime, broadly defined, is a form of government characterized by dominant central power and the subordination of individual rights and freedoms to the authority of the state. Despite the international order being founded on the ideals of liberal democracy, research by the Human Rights Foundation suggests that nearly four billion people in over 90 countries currently live under regimes that can be described as non-democratic.
Professor Timothy Snyder, author of the New York Times bestseller On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, will consider the spectrum of regimes that make up authoritarianism’s modern incarnation, asking in particular about the causes and spread of new regime types from East to West.
The talk will cover:
- History and the authoritarian sense of time
- Elections as regime change
- Are authoritarian regimes on the rise?
- Fragile masculinity: The gender politics of authoritarians
- Defence of the rule of law
About Chatham House Primers
The Chatham House Primer Series is a unique programme of talks designed to bridge the gap between introductory level subject knowledge and a more advanced understanding geared towards practical application, higher-level discussion and policy debate.
With each talk hosted by a leading expert, the Primer series aims to provide the audience with a solid grounding in topics of academic curiosity, key international affairs concepts and the issues behind the news.
This event will be followed by a reception open to all attendees.
Participants
Professor Timothy Snyder, Richard C. Levin Professor of History, Yale University
