The Political Economy of Dictatorship

Although much of the world still lives today, as always, under dictatorship, the behaviour of these regimes and of their leaders often appears irrational and mysterious. In The Political Economy of Dictatorship, Ronald Wintrobe uses rational choice theory to model dictatorships: their strategies for accumulating power, the constraints on their behavior, and why they are often more popular than is commonly accepted. The book explores both the politics and the economics of dictatorships, and the interaction between them. The questions addressed include: What determines the repressiveness of a regime? Can political authoritarianism be 'good' for the economy? After the fall, who should be held responsible for crimes against human rights? The book contains many applications, including chapters on Nazi Germany, Soviet Communism, South Africa under apartheid, the ancient Roman Empire and Pinochet's Chile. It also provides a guide to the policies which should be followed by the democracies towards dictatorships. In The Political Economy Of Dictatorship, Ronald Wintrobe Uses Rational-choice Theory To Model Dictatorships: Their Strategies For Accumulating Power, The Constraints On Their Behavior, And The Reasons Why They Are Often More Popular Than Is Commonly Accepted. The Book Explores Both The Politics And The Economics Of Dictatorships, And The Interaction Between Them. The Questions Addressed Include: What Determines The Repressiveness Of A Regime? Can Political Authoritarianism Be Good For The Economy? After The Fall Of A Dictatorship, Who Should Be Held Responsible For Crimes Against Human Rights? 1. The Problem 2. The Dictator's Dilemma 3. The Tinpot And The Totalitarian 4. Tyranny And Timocracy 5. A More General Model 6. The Economy Of Dictatorship 7. Redistribution And Rent Seeking 8. Apartheid 9. The Bureaucratic Economy I: The Model 10. The Bureaucratic Economy Ii: Rise And Fall 11. Democracy In The Inaction Zone 12. Ethnic Conflict And Nationalism: From Expressionism And Futurism To Kitsch 13. The Simple Economics Of Criminal Bureaucratic Responsibility 14. The Machinery Of Dictatorship. Ronald Wintrobe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 351-367) And Indexes. "In The Political Economy of Dictatorship, Ronald Wintrobe uses rational-choice theory to model dictatorships: their strategies for accumulating power, the constraints on their behavior, and the reasons why they are often more popular than is commonly accepted. The book explores both the politics and the economics of dictatorships, and the interaction between them. The questions addressed include: What determines the repressiveness of a regime? Can political authoritarianism be "good" for the economy? After the fall of a dictatorship, who should be held responsible for crimes against human rights?"--Jacket

Although much of the world still lives today, as always, under dictatorship, the behavior of these regimes and of their leaders often appears irrational and mysterious. This book uses rational choice theory to understand dictators: How do successful dictatorships stay in power? What determines the repressiveness of a regime? How do their economies work? The book contains many applications, including chapters on Nazi Germany, Soviet Communism, South Africa under apartheid, and Pinochet's Chile. It also provides a guide to the policies that should be followed by the democracies towards dictatorships.