Introduction
An autocracy is a prevalent form of government in several nations worldwide, which has been a source of concern for prominent advocates and academics. Numerous academics have analyzed the issue’s effects on countries, particularly on ordinary inhabitants. The style has undeniably profound implications that cannot be emphasized. Therefore, this study critically examines Victor Shaw’s concept of autocracy and its social and political consequences for democracy.
The Characteristics and Symptoms of Autocratic Leadership
An autocracy is a government in which the central authority has total power to pursue personal interests at the expense of guaranteed powers. Countries governed by absolute monarchs are characterized by the leader’s final authority and control over all other officials (Shaw 42). The autocrat’s social, economic, political, and military authority enhances control over the country’s resources, exports, imports, and overall financial activities.
In addition, autocracy is totally unconstrained by external rules, except for the threat of coups. Oligarchy and tyranny are comparable in that tiny groups of affluent, educated, politically, and socially influential persons dominate most of the population and largely contribute to the leadership. The framework of autocracy is straightforward compared to the federal law system, which comprises enormous task groups, consultations, and decision-making processes, among other bureaucratic restrictions (Shaw 42). Regardless of how charismatic autocrats may be as individuals, they require a power structure and leadership aid to implement their reign. In most instances, autocrats need an elite minority and the military to administrate their authority efficiently.
Social Elements and Forces under Autocratic Rule
Socially, autocracy is characterized by elitism, in which leaders view themselves as superior to commoners and use their power to rule, with severe societal consequences. Consequently, they dominate the government, the economy, business, education, trade, and the military (Shaw 47). In this sense, they tend to enforce legislation to promote their benefits, consolidate their social privileges, and dominate political interests. To pursue their goals, they disregard the will of ordinary people. Leadership attracts social forces that have a substantial effect on democracy and the decisions of the people (Shaw 47). Consequently, the government is marked by social elements, such as a lack of tolerance, conflicts, and individual autonomy, which contribute to negative societal results.
In addition, this style of leadership is associated with societal discontent, dictatorship, fascism, and oligarchy. On national levels, it is also tied to power abuse, a lack of morality, a dearth of legal protections, and limited access to government by the average citizen (Shaw 47). Moreover, authoritarianism tends to generate social unrest as it struggles to balance general requirements with the ideas of its leaders. The social demands of the average citizen include infrastructural enhancement, the promotion of peace, and social development. In contrast, a leader’s philosophies have humanistic values, self-improvement, and historical traditions. As a result, the chasm separating these interests is susceptible to political alliances and unrest, eventually increasing the likelihood of coups.
How Autocracy Influences Political Procedures and Common People
The political process involving partisan dealings and beliefs is essential to autocracy. Officials linked with political parties are frequently taught standards of conduct that reflect partisan sentiments and represent partisan identities (Shaw 48). Therefore, the leaders must conform to the autocratic leader’s interests and political affiliations. In this sense, the leaders are compelled to make judgments based on the leaders’ assertions, which goes against the desires of the people (Shaw 48). The supreme leader may manipulate these judgments if they do not align with his interests. In addition, autocracy tends to exacerbate the disparity between party ideology and the demands of regular residents. Ideologies of political parties are connected to social movements, moral standards, religious beliefs, and humanist values.
On the other side, everyday citizen demands relate to practical concerns such as reconciliation between conflicting groups, economic development, social development, and infrastructural development. Party members are preoccupied with following their ideology for personal gain, ignoring the doctrines of regular citizens, who are more concerned with the greater good of society (Shaw 47). Therefore, the leadership style fosters a social environment characterized by a lack of tolerance, conflicts, and individual autonomy, all of which contribute to adverse social outcomes (Shaw 47). In addition, the style produces social instability, despotism, fascism, and oligarchy, which result in the misuse of power, a limited sense of morality, minimal legal protections, and restricted access to government by regular citizens.
How Autocracy Infiltrates the Democratic and Technocratic Systems
As a result of these absolute powers, centralized and unchecked authority, the leadership may infiltrate democracy and technocracy, which has repercussions for the government. As a result, autocrats can monopolize officialdom, penetrate the economy, control businesses, education, and commerce, and dominate the military (Shaw 47). In addition, they influence social, economic, and political aspects that enhance their power to control resources, given that autocracy is unrestricted by external rules.
As a result of these ultimate powers and authority, leaders tend to implement laws to further their interests, secure their social privileges, and dominate political concerns. To pursue their goals, they inherently oppose democracy, representing the general public’s will (Shaw 48). The rules enforced by the leader are generally based on political party doctrines about social movements, moral standards, religious beliefs, and humanist principles. In this instance, democratic concepts such as community development, social and economic development, infrastructure development, and reconciliation between conflicting groups are disregarded, hence affecting the applicability of democracy and technocracy as forms of government.
Conclusion
Autocracy is a leadership system in which the leader has unfettered social, economic, political, and military power, allowing them to manage resources, exports, imports, and economic activity. Conflicts, intolerance, and individual liberty contribute to the style’s negative societal impacts. Besides, the class’s unrestricted powers influence political parties and lawmaking while the public gets eroded by Leaders’ political and personal interests.
Work Cited
Shaw, Victor N. From Autocracy to Democracy to Technocracy: An Evolution of Human Polity. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020.