Understanding Authoritarianism Why Dictators Get Worse Over Time

Description

Kaushik Basu
Professor of Economics and Carl Marks Professor of International Studies
Cornell University

The rise of authoritarian leaders around the world has given rise to a host of questions about the genesis of the power of such leaders, how they quell dissent and why such leaders often morph into tyrants. We also have examples of political leaders who come to power with genuine interest in doing good and curbing corruption but end up perpetuating the very ills that they wanted to cure. These questions and themes go far back into history but there is a resurgence of interest in them. The aim of this lecture will be to address some these urgent questions of our time by drawing on contemporary methods of analysis. The lecture will also speculate about the scope for creating constitutions and institutions that curb authoritarianism.