Competitive authoritarian. Feb 27, 2026 · Rather than fascism or single-party dictatorship, the United States is sliding toward a more 21st-century model of autocracy: competitive authoritarianism—a system in which parties compete in elections but incumbent abuse of power systematically tilts the playing field against the opposition. Competitive authoritarianism—in which the coexistence of meaningful democratic institutions and serious incumbent abuse yields electoral competition that is real but unfair—is alive and well, nearly two decades after the concept was introduced in the Journal of Democracy. Oct 24, 2025 · Levitsky has described “competitive authoritarianism” as a hybrid form of government, in which leaders gain power through democratic institutions and then violate some of the criteria necessary for democratic regimes. . Competitive authoritarian regimes fall short on at least one—and usually more—of three defining attributes of democracy: (1) free elections; (2) broad protection of civil liberties; and (3) a reasonably even playing field. Competitive authoritarianism refers to a type of political regime that combines democratic institutions, such as elections and legislatures, with authoritarian or undemocratic practices that undermine the fairness and integrity of the democratic process. Competitive authoritarianism—in which the coexistence of meaningful democratic institutions and serious incumbent abuse yields electoral competition that is real but unfair—is alive and well, nearly two decades after the concept was introduced in the Journal of Democracy. Part III - The Dynamics of Competitive Authoritarianism in Low-Linkage Regions: The Former Soviet Union, Africa, and Asia pp 181-182 Get access Export citation May 24, 2025 · Competitive authoritarianism is a political system in which the ruling party or leader maintains power through a combination of democratic and authoritarian practices. kkp paww selgapj ymtr hwx