Authoritarian Collective Action Problem

An Authoritarian Collective Action Problem is an authoritarian political coordination failure that prevents authoritarian regime elites from deposing an authoritarian dictator despite authoritarian collective interest in doing so.

• AKA: Dictator's Dilemma, Elite Coordination Failure.
• Context:
  • It can typically involve Authoritarian Information Asymmetry among authoritarian elite members.
  • It can typically create Authoritarian Preference Falsification through authoritarian fear mechanisms.
  • It can typically require Authoritarian Mutual Trust that authoritarian elites cannot establish.
  • It can typically feature Authoritarian First-Mover Disadvantage for authoritarian coup initiators.
  • It can typically generate Authoritarian Surveillance State to monitor authoritarian elite loyalty.
  • ...
  • It can often manifest Authoritarian Trust Deficit between authoritarian power holders.
  • It can often sustain Authoritarian Dictatorial Power through authoritarian coordination failure.
  • It can often produce Authoritarian Purge Cycles targeting authoritarian potential conspirators.
  • It can often create Authoritarian Loyalty Performance through authoritarian public displays.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Weak Authoritarian Collective Action Problem to being a Strong Authoritarian Collective Action Problem, depending on its authoritarian repression intensity.
  • It can range from being a Latent Authoritarian Collective Action Problem to being an Acute Authoritarian Collective Action Problem, depending on its authoritarian crisis severity.
  • It can range from being a Simple Authoritarian Collective Action Problem to being a Complex Authoritarian Collective Action Problem, depending on its authoritarian institutional layers.
  • ...
  • It can emerge from Comparative Modernization Dilemma when authoritarian modernization creates authoritarian elite fractures.
  • It can sustain Legitimacy Run-Out Process by preventing authoritarian leadership change.
  • It can dissolve during Political Bank Run when authoritarian coordination suddenly succeeds.
  • It can be documented through Archive-Driven Historical Analysis of authoritarian regime archives.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Authoritarian Ancient Historical Instances, such as:
    • Roman Empire Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Nero Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (54-68 CE) paralyzing authoritarian senate members from deposing authoritarian emperor nero.
      • Domitian Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (81-96 CE) preventing authoritarian roman elites from challenging authoritarian tyrannical rule.
    • Chinese Imperial Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Ming Dynasty Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1368-1644) constraining authoritarian scholar-officials from opposing authoritarian imperial edicts.
      • Qing Dynasty Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1644-1912) deterring authoritarian manchu nobles from challenging authoritarian emperor decisions.
  • Authoritarian 20th Century Instances, such as:
    • European Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Stalin Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1924-1953) preventing authoritarian politburo members from removing authoritarian soviet dictator.
      • Hitler Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1933-1945) paralyzing authoritarian wehrmacht generals from deposing authoritarian nazi führer.
      • Franco Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1939-1975) constraining authoritarian falangist elites from challenging authoritarian caudillo power.
    • Asian Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Mao Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1949-1976) deterring authoritarian party cadres from opposing authoritarian chairman directives.
      • Suharto Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1967-1998) maintaining authoritarian new order control through authoritarian elite cooptation.
    • African Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Mobutu Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1965-1997) sustaining authoritarian zaire dictatorship via authoritarian patronage networks.
      • Idi Amin Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1971-1979) preserving authoritarian uganda tyranny through authoritarian military terror.
    • Latin American Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Pinochet Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1973-1990) deterring authoritarian junta members from authoritarian power challenge.
      • Stroessner Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1954-1989) maintaining authoritarian paraguay control through authoritarian colorado party.
  • Authoritarian Contemporary Instances, such as:
    • Asian Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • North Korea Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1994-present) maintaining authoritarian kim dynasty despite authoritarian elite dissatisfaction.
      • China Xi Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (2012-present) consolidating authoritarian paramount leader power through authoritarian anti-corruption campaigns.
    • Post-Soviet Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Russia Putin Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (2000-present) sustaining authoritarian vertical power via authoritarian silovik competition.
      • Belarus Lukashenko Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1994-present) preserving authoritarian personal rule through authoritarian security apparatus.
      • Central Asia Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (1991-present) maintaining authoritarian president-for-life systems across authoritarian multiple republics.
    • Middle Eastern Authoritarian Instances, such as:
      • Syria Assad Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (2000-present) preserving authoritarian alawite dominance through authoritarian sectarian balancing.
      • Egypt Sisi Era Authoritarian Collective Action Problem (2013-present) consolidating authoritarian military rule via authoritarian security state.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Democratic Accountability Mechanism, which provides democratic institutional channels for democratic leader removal.
  • Military Coup Coordination, which overcomes military collective action through military hierarchical structure.
  • Popular Revolution Movement, which mobilizes popular mass action rather than elite coordination.
• See: Collective Action Theory, Authoritarian Politics, Elite Theory, Coordination Game, Comparative Modernization Dilemma, Political Bank Run.

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