History of Authoritarianism in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 22, 2025

Authoritarianism is a political system marked by the suppression of political diversity, the concentration of power in a central authority, and limitations on democracy, separation of powers, civil liberties, and the rule of law. These regimes can be autocratic (rule by one) or oligarchic (rule by a few), often controlled by a political party or the military. Some states exhibit characteristics of both democracy and authoritarianism and are referred to as "hybrid democracies" or "competitive authoritarian" states.

1918: Soviet Russia Constitution

In 1918, the Soviet Russia Constitution, the first charter of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic (RSFSR), was described by Vladimir Lenin as a revolutionary document.

1945: End of World War II

World War II ended in 1945, resulting in the replacement of authoritarian regimes by either democratic regimes or regimes that were less authoritarian.

1946: Increase in Authoritarian States

From 1946, the proportion of authoritarian states within the international political system experienced growth, continuing until the mid-1970s.

1964: Linz's Definition of Authoritarianism

In 1964, political scientist Juan Linz defined authoritarianism as possessing four qualities in his influential work, 'An Authoritarian Regime: Spain'.

1982: Shift away from Dictatorships

Starting in 1982, in South America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay moved away from dictatorships to democracy.

1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, there was a widespread belief that authoritarian states were outdated.

1990: Shift away from Dictatorships

Ending in 1990, in South America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay moved away from dictatorships to democracy.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

In 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the belief that authoritarian states (and state control of economies) were outdated gained traction.

1991: End of Cold War

The Cold War ended in 1991, resulting in the replacement of authoritarian regimes by either democratic regimes or regimes that were less authoritarian.

2000: Shift in the establishment of Dictatorships

Since 2000, dictatorships have most likely emerged through democratic backsliding, where a democratically elected leader establishes an authoritarian regime, a change from pre-2000 dictatorships which typically began with a coup.

2005: Halperin, Siegle, and Weinstein Argue for Superior Development Performance of Democracies

In 2005, Morton H. Halperin, Joseph T. Siegle and Michael M. Weinstein argue that democracies "realize superior development performance" over authoritarianism.

2005: Observation of a "Democratic Recession"

Since 2005, observers noted what some have called a "democratic recession".

2006: Terrorism and Political Freedom Study

A 2006 study by economist Alberto Abadie concluded that terrorism is most common in nations with intermediate political freedom.

2006: Freedom House Report on Declining Political Rights and Civil Liberties

In 2006, the Freedom House declared that from 2006 to 2018 "113 countries" around the world showed "a net decline" in "political rights and civil liberties" while "only 62" experienced "a net improvement."

2007: Financial Crisis

In 2007, the financial crisis was one of the factors that led to the growth of authoritarianism in countries such as the United States.

2008: Financial Crisis

In 2008, the financial crisis was one of the factors that led to the growth of authoritarianism in countries such as the United States.

December 2010: Beginning of the Arab Spring

In December 2010, the Arab Spring began in response to unrest over economic stagnation and opposition to oppressive authoritarian regimes, starting in Tunisia and spreading to other countries.

2010: Rodrik's Analysis of Democracy vs. Autocracy

In 2010, Dani Rodrik wrote that democracies outperform autocracies in terms of long-term economic growth, economic stability, adjustments to external economic shocks, human capital investment, and economic equality.

2010: Levitsky and Way Coin the Term 'Competitive Authoritarian Regime'

In 2010, Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way coined the term 'competitive authoritarian regime' in their book of the same name, discussing a type of hybrid regime.

2013: Debate Over Democratic Decline

In 2013, Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way disputed that there was a significant democratic decline before 2013.

2013: Nonlinear Relationship between Political Freedom and Terrorism

Studies in 2013 found a nonlinear relationship between political freedom and terrorism, with the most terrorist attacks occurring in partial democracies and the fewest in strict autocracies and full-fledged democracies.

2016: Impact of Succession Rules on Coup Attempts

A 2016 study shows that the implementation of succession rules reduces the occurrence of coup attempts.

2017: Influence of Similar Histories on Coup-Proofing

A 2017 study finds that countries' coup-proofing strategies are heavily influenced by other countries with similar histories.

2017: Terrorism and Political Freedom Studies

Studies in 2017 similarly found a nonlinear relationship between political freedom and terrorism, with the most terrorist attacks occurring in partial democracies and the fewest in "strict autocracies and full-fledged democracies."

2018: Magen's Study on Terrorism

A 2018 study by Amichai Magen demonstrated that liberal democracies and polyarchies not only suffer fewer terrorist attacks but also suffer fewer casualties in terrorist attacks compared to other regime types.

2018: Leaders Surviving Coup Attempts

A 2018 study in the Journal of Peace Research found that leaders who survive coup attempts and respond by purging known and potential rivals are likely to have longer tenures as leaders.

2018: Party-Led Dictatorships and Elections

According to a 2018 study, most party-led dictatorships regularly hold popular elections.

2018: Resurgence of Authoritarianism and Islamic Extremism

By 2018, only one Arab Spring uprising (that in Tunisia) resulted in a transition to constitutional democratic governance and a "resurgence of authoritarianism and Islamic extremism" in the region was dubbed the Arab Winter.

2018: Frum's Reflection on the Late 20th Century

In 2018, American political journalist David Frum stated that "The hopeful world of the very late 20th century…now looks battered and delusive."

2018: Freedom House Report on Declining Political Rights and Civil Liberties

In 2018, the Freedom House declared that from 2006 to 2018 "113 countries" around the world showed "a net decline" in "political rights and civil liberties" while "only 62" experienced "a net improvement."

2019: Study on Democracy and GDP

A 2019 study by Daron Acemoglu, Suresh Naidu, Pascual Restrepo, and James A. Robinson found that democracy increases GDP per capita by about 20 percent over the long-term.

2019: Coup-Proofing Measures in Personalist Dictatorships

A 2019 study in Conflict Management and Peace Science found that personalist dictatorships are more likely to take coup-proofing measures than other authoritarian regimes.

2019: Authoritarian Control Through Information Manipulation

According to a 2019 study by Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman, authoritarian regimes have become less reliant on violence and mass repression, and instead increasingly resort to manipulation of information as a means of control.