Authoritarianism beyond the canon: teaching neglected angles of autocratic politics

Marie-Eve Desrosiers

Chapter 2 in Teaching Autocracy and Autocratic Politics, 2026, pp 28-48 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter argues for teaching authoritarianism “beyond the canon” by engaging dimensions of autocratic politics that dominant institution and elite-focused approaches to comparative authoritarian politics overlook. It identifies three neglected angles—informal institutions, overlooked actors, and lived, everyday, or bottom-up experiences—that can help offer a fuller understanding of how authoritarianism is sustained, challenged, and experienced. It argues, as a result, that these neglected elements should be made a key component of courses on authoritarianism. To help instructors integrate these elements into their teachings, it also suggests different ways through which these neglected angles can be covered in class, including through innovative pedagogical methods, such as the use of fiction writing and role-playing, that can help students experience these granular dynamics in a more proximate manner.

Keywords: Authoritarianism; Informal Politics; Bureaucrats; Citizens; Everyday (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035353453
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