The Pandemic of Autocracy: Societal Vulnerabilities to Authoritarianism

The emergence of anti-democratic forms of government is examined as a function of heightened dynamic political stressors that influence the populace. Specific drivers of “collective threat” are reviewed. This risk is heightened by deep collective assumptions about group identity, the relationship to powerful others, and the history of animus toward social outgroups. In determining the role of leadership subjects were examined are based up AI-generated analyses of influential authoritarian leaders. The practice of political leadership in anti-democratic countries frequently invokes authoritarianism, ultranationalism and xenophobia (AUX) in galvanizing the leader-follower bond. Our analyses include using the Hofstede model of culture to profile the cultural context of authoritarianism. The dimensions of power distance, collectivism, and suppression of hedonic experience were found to represent the cultural context of authoritarian regimes.