Interdisciplinary academic work on Authoritarianism with a particular focus on political theory, French continental thought, and Africana political thought

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Anti-Authoritarianism

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Albertus, Michael. Autocracy and Redistribution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015.

AI Summary: This book examines how autocratic regimes utilize redistribution as a tool to maintain power. It argues that autocrats strategically manage economic resources, including through expropriation and patronage, to manage elite and popular support, thereby enhancing their survival in power.

Albertus, Michael, and Victor Menaldo. Authoritarianism and the Elite Origins of Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

AI Summary: This work explores the conditions under which authoritarian regimes transition to democracy, focusing on the role of elites. It posits that democratic transitions often occur when authoritarian leaders, facing internal or external pressures, opt to democratize to preserve their wealth and influence rather than risk violent overthrow.

Albertus, Michael, and Victor Menaldo. “If You’re Against Them You’re with Us: The Effect of Expropriation on Autocratic Survival.” Comparative Political Studies 45, no. 8 (2012): 973–1003.

AI Summary: This article investigates the impact of expropriation—the seizure of private assets—on the longevity of autocratic regimes. It suggests that while expropriation can consolidate power by eliminating rivals and generating resources, it also carries risks that can destabilize the regime depending on how it’s implemented and perceived by key actors.

Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1951.

AI Summary: Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism examines the rise of totalitarian movements, tracing their roots through antisemitism, imperialism, and the collapse of traditional political structures. She analyzes the mechanisms of fascist regimes—particularly Nazism—and identifies how mass propaganda, racism, and extreme nationalism underpin their ideologies. The book remains a foundational critique of the political conditions that enable fascist systems to emerge and thrive.

Beetham, David. The Legitimation of Power. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013.

AI Summary: This foundational text explores various ways in which political power, including authoritarian power, is legitimized. Beetham discusses how consent, legality, and shared beliefs contribute to the acceptance of power, and how these mechanisms can be manipulated or eroded in authoritarian contexts to maintain control.

Bond, Bayleigh Elaine, and Ryan Neville-Shepard. “The Rise of Presidential Eschatology: Conspiracy Theories, Religion, and the January 6th Insurrection.” American Behavioral Scientist 67, no. 5 (2023): 681–96.

AI Summary: This article examines the intersection of conspiracy theories, religious beliefs, and political violence, particularly in the context of the January 6th insurrection. While not directly on authoritarian regimes, it offers insights into how belief systems can be mobilized to challenge democratic institutions and support leaders exhibiting authoritarian tendencies.

Césaire, Aimé. “Discourse on Colonialism.” In Postcolonialism, 310–339. New York: Routledge, 2023.

AI Summary: Aimé Césaire’s Discourse on Colonialism delivers a scathing critique of European colonial ideology, revealing how colonialism shares structural affinities with fascism—particularly through its reliance on violence, racial hierarchy, and dehumanization. Césaire argues that the methods used in the colonies eventually seeped back into Europe, facilitating the rise of fascist regimes that mirrored colonial brutality. His work positions white nationalism not as an isolated ideology, but as part of a broader imperialist logic that underpins both colonial and fascist enterprises.

Corrales, Javier. “Why Populism Is the Sugar, Salt, and Fat of Our Politics. . . with Variations: A Reflection.” The American Behavioral Scientist (Beverly Hills) 68, no. 13 (2024): 1804–14. doi:10.1177/00027642241268275.

AI Summary: Javier Corrales’s article uses a vivid metaphor—populism as the sugar, salt, and fat of politics—to explain how authoritarian-populist leaders distort democratic norms by oversupplying familiar democratic elements in toxic combinations. He argues that policies meant to empower the voiceless (sugar), challenge elites (salt), and saturate reform agendas (fat) become addictive and corrosive when manipulated excessively, leading to regimes that veer into authoritarianism while maintaining mass appeal. The study highlights how both left- and right-wing populists emulate each other’s tactics, creating hybrid regimes that blur the line between democracy and autocracy.

Johnson, Valerie C., Jennifer Ruth, and Ellen Schrecker, eds. The Right to Learn: Resisting the Right-Wing Attack on Academic Freedom. Boston: Beacon Press, 2024.

AI Summary: This edited volume examines how academic freedom is under assault from right-wing forces, a trend that can be seen as a form of creeping authoritarianism within democratic systems. By analyzing efforts to control curriculum, censor speech, and punish dissenting scholars, the book illustrates how the erosion of open inquiry and critical thought can pave the way for more overt forms of authoritarian control, limiting the public’s access to diverse perspectives and accurate information.

Levitsky, Steven, and Lucan Way. “Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism.” 2022.

AI Summary: This work delves into the violent and often revolutionary origins of highly durable authoritarian regimes. It argues that the specific circumstances surrounding a regime’s birth, particularly the degree of violence and the nature of the opposition, are critical in shaping its long-term resilience and ability to suppress dissent. Understanding these historical pathways provides insight into why some authoritarian systems persist for decades despite internal and external pressures.

Guriev, Sergei, and Daniel Treisman. Spin Dictators: The Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2022.

AI Summary: This book introduces the concept of “spin dictatorships,” arguing that modern authoritarian regimes increasingly rely on sophisticated propaganda, censorship, and manipulation of information rather than overt repression to maintain power. Unlike traditional dictatorships that use fear, spin dictators aim to persuade their populations, creating an illusion of legitimacy and public support, which poses a new challenge to democratic forces attempting to counter authoritarian influence.

Hallin, Daniel C., and Paolo Mancini. Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

AI Summary: Hallin and Mancini provide a framework for analyzing media systems and their relationship to politics, identifying three primary models: polarized pluralist, democratic corporatist, and liberal. They explore how different media systems can either resist or facilitate authoritarian influence, emphasizing the importance of media in shaping political discourse and maintaining democratic norms.

Hallin, Daniel C., and Paolo Mancini, eds. Comparing Media Systems Beyond the Western World. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

AI Summary: This edited volume extends the analysis of media systems to non-Western contexts, examining how varying political, social, and economic conditions influence media operations. The contributors discuss how media systems in different regions can support or hinder authoritarian regimes, highlighting the global diversity of media-politics dynamics.

Levitsky, Steven, and Lucan A. Way. Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

AI Summary: Levitsky and Way introduce the concept of competitive authoritarianism, where democratic institutions exist but are undermined by authoritarian practices. They provide a comparative analysis of hybrid regimes, illustrating how these systems maintain a facade of democracy while restricting genuine political competition and civil liberties.

Lührmann, Anna, and Staffan I. Lindberg. “Keeping the Democratic Façade: Contemporary Autocratization as a Game of Deception.” V-Dem Working Paper, 75, 2018.

AI Summary: Lührmann and Lindberg explore how modern autocratization often involves maintaining a superficial appearance of democracy while eroding its substance. They analyze how deceptive practices are employed by authoritarian regimes to consolidate power, focusing on the manipulation of democratic institutions to serve autocratic ends.

Lührmann, Anna, and Staffan I. Lindberg. “A Third Wave of Autocratization is Here: What is New About It?” Democratization 26, no. 7 (2019): 1095-1113.

AI Summary: This article discusses the contemporary wave of autocratization, identifying new patterns and strategies that differentiate it from previous periods. Lührmann and Lindberg highlight how modern autocrats exploit democratic processes, such as elections and media, to legitimize their rule while systematically dismantling democratic institutions.

Monk-Payton, Brandy. “‘Look at My African American’: On Authoritarian Populism, Blackness, and Celebrity.” JCMS: Journal of Cinema and Media Studies 63, no. 2 (2024): 162-168. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cj.2024.a919198.

AI Summary: Brandy Monk-Payton’s article examines how authoritarian populism in the U.S., particularly under Donald Trump, exploits Blackness and celebrity culture to legitimize power and appeal to white nationalist sentiments. Through media analysis—including Trump’s controversial “Look at my African American” remark and his appearances on Saturday Night Live—Monk-Payton reveals how Black celebrities are tokenized and instrumentalized to construct a populist image rooted in racial spectacle. The study argues that this racialized celebritization masks authoritarian tendencies by blending entertainment, identity politics, and strategic representation.

Memmi, Albert. The Colonizer and the Colonized. Routledge, 2013.

AI Summary: Memmi’s seminal work deeply explores the psychological and social dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized, illustrating how the colonial system inherently creates an authoritarian power structure. It highlights how this relationship relies on the dehumanization of the colonized and the assertion of absolute control by the colonizer, establishing a framework of domination that suppresses native identity and agency.

Memmi, Albert. Decolonization and the Decolonized. U of Minnesota Press, 2006.

AI Summary: This work examines the complex process of decolonization and its aftermath for those who lived under colonial rule. Memmi discusses how the legacy of colonial authoritarianism often lingers, influencing new forms of power dynamics and struggles for self-determination. It addresses the challenges faced by newly independent states in overcoming ingrained structures of control and forging a truly liberated society.

Memmi, Albert, Thomas Cassirer, and G. Michael Twomey. “The impossible life of Frantz Fanon.” The Massachusetts Review 14, no. 1 (1973): 9-39.

AI Summary: This article provides insight into the life and thought of Frantz Fanon, a key theorist of liberation from colonial oppression, whose work often analyzed the violent and authoritarian nature of colonialism. By exploring Fanon’s experiences and ideas, the piece indirectly touches upon how oppressive colonial systems necessitated a radical response, highlighting the inherently authoritarian character of colonial rule that Fanon sought to dismantle.

Mamdani, Mahmood. “Beyond settler and native as political identities: Overcoming the political legacy of colonialism.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 43, no. 4 (2001): 651-664.

AI Summary: Mamdani argues that the enduring political legacy of colonialism is the creation of rigid “settler” and “native” identities, which often form the basis for post-colonial authoritarianism and conflict. He contends that overcoming these imposed categories is crucial for building inclusive political communities and moving beyond the authoritarian divisions that colonialism instigated to maintain control.

Mamdani, Mahmood. When Victims Become Killers: Colonialism, Nativism, and the Genocide in Rwanda. Princeton University Press, 2020.

AI Summary: In this profound analysis, Mamdani connects the Rwandan genocide to the authoritarian administrative structures and identity politics imposed by colonial rule. He demonstrates how the colonial “define and rule” strategy created rigid ethnic categories, which, when combined with a post-colonial authoritarian state, facilitated the mobilization of populations towards violence, illustrating the devastating impact of inherited colonial authoritarianism.

Mamdani, Mahmood. “Citizen and subject: Contemporary Africa and the legacy of late colonialism.” 2018: 1-384.

AI Summary: This foundational work explores how late colonialism in Africa created a dual system of rule: “citizens” governed by civil law in urban areas, and “subjects” ruled by customary law in rural areas, leading to a fragmented and often authoritarian state. Mamdani reveals how this inherited distinction continues to shape political exclusion and the exercise of power in post-colonial African states, perpetuating authoritarian legacies.

Mamdani, Mahmood. Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity. Harvard University Press, 2012.

AI Summary: Mamdani elaborates on how colonial powers used the concept of “native” as a political identity to establish and maintain their authoritarian rule, differentiating between populations to facilitate control. He analyzes how this administrative strategy created and reinforced ethnic divisions, which subsequently became embedded in post-colonial states, often contributing to new forms of authoritarian governance and conflict.

Moon, Ruth. Authoritarian Journalism: Controlling the News in Post-Conflict Rwanda. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023.

AI Summary: This book provides a contemporary case study of how authoritarian regimes control information, focusing specifically on journalism in post-conflict Rwanda. Moon investigates the mechanisms by which the state manipulates news narratives, suppresses dissent, and instrumentalizes media to consolidate power, offering a detailed look at the methods and impact of authoritarian control over the press in a modern context.

Schneider, Lena. Measuring Global Media Freedom. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2020.

AI Summary: Schneider provides a comprehensive framework for assessing media freedom worldwide, examining how varying degrees of freedom impact democratic resilience and authoritarian control. Her work illustrates the critical role of free and independent media in challenging authoritarian narratives and supporting democratic accountability.

Simandan, Dragos, Claus Rinner, and Valentina Capurri. 2023. “The Academic Left, Human Geography, and the Rise of Authoritarianism during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography 106 (2): 175–95. doi:10.1080/04353684.2023.2168560.

AI Summary: Dragos Simandan, Claus Rinner, and Valentina Capurri’s article critiques the Academic Left’s muted response to authoritarian public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially within the field of human geography. The authors argue that many scholars failed to challenge the erosion of civil liberties and the normalization of emergency powers, despite their traditional commitment to equity and human rights. They call for a renewed wave of anti-authoritarian scholarship that interrogates how crisis narratives and biosecurity measures have enabled authoritarian governance under the guise of pandemic management.

Solis, John A., and Phillip D. Waggoner. “Measuring Media Freedom: An Item Response Theory Analysis of Existing Indicators.” British Journal of Political Science 51, no. 4 (2021): 1685-1704.

AI Summary: Solis and Waggoner evaluate existing indicators of media freedom using item response theory, offering insights into the strengths and limitations of current measures. Their analysis underscores the importance of accurate assessments in understanding the media’s role in resisting authoritarianism and promoting democratic governance.

AI Summary: Dragos Simandan, Claus Rinner, and Valentina Capurri’s article critiques the Academic Left’s muted response to authoritarian public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially within the field of human geography. The authors argue that many scholars failed to challenge the erosion of civil liberties and the normalization of emergency powers, despite their traditional commitment to equity and human rights. They call for a renewed wave of anti-authoritarian scholarship that interrogates how crisis narratives and biosecurity measures have enabled authoritarian governance under the guise of pandemic management.

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the 20th Century. New York: Crown, 2017.

AI Summary: Snyder’s concise work draws lessons from 20th-century authoritarian and totalitarian regimes to offer warnings about the fragility of democracy and the rise of tyranny in the present day. He identifies specific historical patterns and behaviors that lead to authoritarianism, providing practical guidance for citizens to recognize and resist its emergence in their own societies.

Sonnevend, Julia, and Veronika Kövesdi. 2023. “More Than Just a Strongman: The Strategic Construction of Victor Orbán’s Charismatic Authority on Facebook.” The International Journal of Press/Politics 29 (4), 891-918. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612231179120

AI Summary: This article analyzes how Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán strategically uses Facebook to cultivate an image of charismatic authority, moving beyond simple strongman rhetoric to consolidate his authoritarian rule. It highlights the role of social media in modern authoritarianism, showing how digital platforms can be leveraged to build cults of personality and maintain power through sophisticated communication strategies.

Stein, Edith. On the Problem of Empathy: The Collected Works of Edith Stein, Vol. 3. Translated by Waltraut Stein. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1989. *

AI Summary: Stein’s work provides a deep phenomenological analysis of empathy, emphasizing the unique subjectivity and alterity of each individual. By foregrounding the ethical imperative of genuinely understanding the “other,” it offers a profound philosophical challenge to authoritarian power, which often relies on dehumanization and the suppression of individual consciousness.

Svolik, Milan. 2012. The Politics of Authoritarian Rule. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

AI Summary: Svolik’s book provides a rigorous theoretical and empirical analysis of the fundamental political challenges faced by authoritarian regimes, particularly regarding power-sharing and political control. It explores why authoritarian leaders choose specific institutions and how they manage threats from within the elite and from the populace, offering insights into the stability and durability of different forms of authoritarian rule.

Parker, Christopher S. and Tolwer, Christopher C. “Race and Authoritarianism in American Politics.” Annual Review of Political Science 29 (2019). doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-064519

AI Summary: This article examines the enduring relationship between race and authoritarian attitudes within the American political context. It explores how racial anxieties and perceptions can fuel support for authoritarian leaders and policies, demonstrating that authoritarianism is not solely a feature of non-democratic states but also a significant underlying current influencing political behavior and preferences within a democratic system.

Pearson, James S. “Defining Digital Authoritarianism.” Philosophy & Technology 37, no. 2 (2024). doi:10.1007/s13347-024-00754-8.

AI Summary: In this article, Pearson critiques the traditional definition of digital authoritarianism (DA), which focuses on intentional misuse of technology by repressive regimes. He argues for a broader approach/more inclusive definition of DA that includes unintentional forms of digital repression, such as benign surveillance, digital sovereignty, attention-harvesting algorithms, and tech-induced loneliness. This expanded definition helps capture the full scope of how digital technologies contribute to authoritarianism, even without direct political intent.

Schrecker, Ellen. No Ivory Tower: McCarthyism and the Universities. Oxford University Press, 1986.

AI Summary: Ellen Schrecker’s work explores the impact of McCarthyism on American universities, highlighting how anti-communist sentiments led to a climate of fear and conformity. This historical account demonstrates how authoritarian tactics can infiltrate and undermine academic freedom, offering a cautionary tale about the fragility of intellectual independence in the face of political pressure.

Vanderhill, Rachel. Autocracy and Resistance in the Internet Age. 1st ed. Boulder, Colo: Lynne Rienner, 2020. doi:10.1515/9781626379190.

AI Summary: Rachel Vanderhill’s Autocracy and Resistance in the Internet Age explores how autocratic regimes strategically use digital technologies—especially social media—to maintain power through surveillance, censorship, and propaganda. Drawing on cases from the Middle East, North Africa, and post-Soviet states, Vanderhill shows that while these platforms can empower prodemocracy movements, they are often co-opted by authoritarian governments to suppress dissent and manipulate public discourse. The book underscores the dual nature of information communication technology in modern authoritarianism: both a threat to autocrats and a tool for their resilience.

Weigel, Moira. “The Authoritarian Personality 2.0.” Polity 54, no. 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1086/717511

AI Summary: This essay reconceives Adorno’s work on the Authoritarian Personality as an early theory of algorithms, arguing that “the society of algorithms” has reshaped both authoritarianism and individual personality by revisiting his “Types and Syndromes” chapter and his content analysis of the Los Angeles Times astrology column. It uses these readings to propose an Adorno-inspired critical data science framework and the concept of the “systems update” to better understand contemporary right-wing movements in relation to digital media and historical fascism.

Wintrobe, Ronald. The political economy of dictatorship. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

AI Summary: Ronald Wintrobe develops a theoretical framework to analyze how dictators maintain power using a balance of repression and loyalty. He categorizes dictatorships into different types—such as tinpot, tyrant, and totalitarian—based on how they manage this balance. The book applies economic principles to explain the behavior of authoritarian regimes, exploring issues like propaganda, fear, and state control. Wintrobe’s analysis highlights the internal logic and constraints faced by dictators, offering insights into the stability and vulnerability of such regimes.

Treisman, Daniel. “How great is the current danger to democracy? Assessing the risk with historical data.” Comparative Political Studies 56, no. 12 (2023): 1924-1952.

AI Summary: Daniel Treisman uses historical data to evaluate contemporary threats to democratic systems. He compares recent global trends with past episodes of democratic backsliding to determine whether current concerns are unprecedented or part of a recurring pattern. Treisman concludes that while democracy faces real challenges, the current risk is not unusually severe by historical standards. His analysis emphasizes the importance of perspective and data-driven assessments in evaluating democratic resilience.

Wintrobe, Ronald. The Political Economy of Dictatorship. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

AI Summary: Wintrobe’s book analyzes dictatorship through an economic lens, arguing that authoritarian regimes face unique dilemmas in balancing repression and loyalty to maintain power. He develops a model where dictators must decide how much to spend on controlling the population versus rewarding loyal elites, providing a framework for understanding the internal logic and stability of various authoritarian systems.

Treisman, Daniel. “How great is the current danger to democracy? Assessing the risk with historical data.” Comparative Political Studies 56, no. 12 (2023): 1924-1952.

AI Summary: Treisman’s article evaluates the contemporary threat to democracy by comparing current trends with historical patterns of democratic decline and authoritarian emergence. Using empirical data, he assesses whether present-day conditions truly represent an unprecedented danger or fall within historical norms, offering a data-driven perspective on the likelihood of democratic backsliding and the rise of authoritarianism

Recommended Political Thought

Texts and Theorists who Defended/Justified Authoritarianism

Cortés, Juan Donoso. “Essay on Dictatorship.” Originally published 1849.

AI Summary: Donoso Cortés’s “Essay on Dictatorship” passionately argues for the necessity of dictatorship in times of political and social crisis, presenting it as a rational and even divinely sanctioned response to the perceived instability of liberal democracy. He contends that when society faces breakdown, a strong, singular authority is required to impose order, thus providing an intellectual defense for temporary or even permanent authoritarian rule as a necessary evil.

Dugin, Aleksandr. The Fourth Political Theory. Moscow: Eurasia, 2009.

AI Summary: Dugin’s The Fourth Political Theory seeks to develop an ideological alternative to liberalism, fascism, and communism, arguing for a new form of politics rooted in a rejection of Western modernity and globalism. While complex, it often promotes a form of illiberal, anti-modern, and culturally conservative politics that centralizes power and identity, frequently aligning with authoritarian tendencies in its proposed rejection of liberal democratic norms.

Evola, Julius. Revolt Against the Modern World. Milan: Hoepli, 1934.

AI Summary: Evola’s Revolt Against the Modern World is a foundational text of traditionalism, advocating for a return to a hierarchical, spiritual, and pre-modern social order, condemning what he views as the degenerate values of modernity, including democracy and egalitarianism. This work provides an ideological framework that implicitly supports an authoritarian, aristocratic, and often spiritualized form of governance as the only legitimate alternative to modern decay.

Filmer, Robert. Patriarcha, or The Natural Power of Kings. London: Richard Chiswell, 1680.

AI Summary: Filmer’s Patriarcha defends the divine right of kings, asserting that monarchical power is derived directly from the patriarchal authority granted to Adam by God. This work provides a theological justification for hereditary, absolute rule, framing it as a natural and divinely ordained form of authoritarian governance that brooks no challenge from below, thereby legitimizing an autocratic system.

Fitzhugh, George. Cannibals All! Or, Slaves Without Masters. Richmond, VA: A. Morris, 1857.

AI Summary: Fitzhugh’s Cannibals All! defends the institution of slavery and, more broadly, a hierarchical and authoritarian social order against the tenets of free-market capitalism and individual liberty. He argues that the dependency of master on slave is more humane than the exploitative nature of free labor, advocating for a paternalistic form of authoritarianism where some are naturally superior and destined to rule over others for their own good.

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651.

AI Summary: Hobbes’s Leviathan argues for a powerful, absolute sovereign to prevent societal chaos and the “war of all against all.” He posits that individuals willingly surrender their freedoms to an authoritarian state in exchange for peace and security, thereby providing a foundational philosophical justification for strong, centralized authority as essential for maintaining order and preventing anarchy.

Jünger, Ernst. On Pain. Berlin: S. Fischer, 1934.

AI Summary: Jünger’s On Pain explores the embrace of pain and danger as a means of forging a new type of human in the modern technological age, implicitly advocating for a stoic and disciplined individual suited for a harsh, industrial, and potentially authoritarian society. While not directly political, it outlines an ethos of unfeeling strength and resilience that could underpin a worldview supportive of severe, controlling political systems.

Maistre, Joseph de. Considerations on France. London: J. Murray and S. Highley, 1797.

AI Summary: De Maistre’s Considerations on France is a fervent defense of absolute monarchy and a scathing critique of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, which he viewed as destructive forces leading to societal decay. He advocates for a return to traditional, divinely sanctioned authority, emphasizing the need for a strong, even authoritarian, hand to maintain social order and prevent revolutionary anarchy.

Mussolini, Benito, and Giovanni Gentile. The Doctrine of Fascism. Originally published in Enciclopedia Italiana, 1932.

AI Summary: This work, largely attributed to Mussolini, articulates the core tenets of Fascism, emphasizing the absolute primacy of the state, the subordination of the individual to the collective, and the necessity of a charismatic, authoritarian leader. It explicitly rejects liberal democracy, socialism, and individualism, advocating for a totalitarian state that controls all aspects of life to achieve national strength and unity.

Schmitt, Carl. The Concept of the Political. Munich: Duncker & Humblot, 1932.

AI Summary: Schmitt’s The Concept of the Political posits that the essence of politics lies in the distinction between friend and enemy, and that a true political order requires the sovereign’s ability to decide on this ultimate distinction, including the power to declare a state of exception. This framework provides a theoretical basis for a strong, decisive, and potentially authoritarian state that can override legal norms in times of crisis to protect its existence.

Schmitt, Carl. The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy. Munich: Duncker & Humblot, 1923.

AI Summary: In The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy, Schmitt critiques the foundational principles of liberal parliamentarism, arguing that its reliance on open debate and compromise renders it ineffective in addressing fundamental political conflicts. He suggests that genuine political decision-making requires a more decisive and unified authority, laying intellectual groundwork for a move beyond democratic processes toward more authoritarian forms of governance.

Schmitt, Carl. Political Theology. Munich: Duncker & Humblot, 1922.

AI Summary: Schmitt’s Political Theology explores the origins of modern political concepts, arguing that fundamental ideas like sovereignty derive from theological concepts, particularly the idea of a transcendent God who can suspend the law. He posits that the sovereign’s power to declare a “state of exception” and act outside the law is the essence of sovereignty, providing a theological-legal justification for potentially authoritarian rule.

Sedgwick, Mark, ed. Key Thinkers of the Radical Right: Behind the New Threat to Liberal Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019.

AI Summary: This edited volume surveys the intellectual lineage of the radical right, often exploring thinkers whose ideas have contributed to or justified authoritarian or anti-democratic movements. By analyzing the core tenets of these diverse figures, the book illuminates the ideological underpinnings that frequently lead to calls for strong leadership, exclusionary politics, and the suppression of liberal democratic institutions.

Political Thought on Authoritarianism

Agamben, Giorgio. Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life. Translated by Daniel Heller-Roazen. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1998.

AI Summary: Agamben’s Homo Sacer explores the concept of “bare life” – life stripped of all political and legal rights – and its connection to sovereign power. He argues that modern political systems, including authoritarian ones, operate by creating a zone where individuals can be reduced to this bare life, subject to the absolute power of the sovereign and thereby excluded from legal protection. This theoretical framework provides a chilling perspective on the mechanisms of authoritarian control and exclusion.

Agamben, Giorgio. State of Exception. Translated by Kevin Attell. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.

AI Summary: Building on Homo Sacer, Agamben’s State of Exception examines the historical and legal mechanisms through which a sovereign power can declare an emergency that suspends the normal rule of law. He contends that this “state of exception,” originally a temporary measure, has become a permanent feature of modern governance, providing a key tool for authoritarian regimes to bypass legal constraints and exercise unchecked power under the guise of crisis.

Boggs, Carl. Fascism Old and New: American Politics at the Crossroads. New York: Routledge, 2018.

AI Summary: Boggs’s Fascism Old and New analyzes the historical roots of fascism and argues for its contemporary relevance in understanding current trends in American politics. He explores how elements of classical fascism, such as nationalism, anti-democratic tendencies, and the suppression of dissent, might manifest in new forms, suggesting a potential pathway toward authoritarianism within a seemingly democratic system.

Brown, Wendy. In the Ruins of Neoliberalism: The Rise of Antidemocratic Politics in the West. New York: Columbia University Press, 2019.

AI Summary: Brown argues that the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of antidemocratic politics in the West are deeply connected to the failures and consequences of neoliberalism. She posits that the neoliberal focus on market principles and individual competition has weakened social solidarity and democratic institutions, creating fertile ground for the appeal of authoritarian leaders and movements that promise strong, decisive action.

Brown, Wendy, Peter Gordon, and Max Pensky, eds. Authoritarianism: Three Inquiries in Political Theory. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2023.

AI Summary: This edited volume offers a multifaceted theoretical exploration of authoritarianism, delving into its contemporary manifestations and underlying philosophical questions. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the inquiries collectively aim to deepen understanding of how authoritarian power functions, its appeal, and its impact on political thought and societal structures in the modern era.

Daggett, Cara. “Petro-Masculinity: Fossil Fuels and Authoritarian Desire.” Environmental Humanities 11, no. 1 (2019): 23-41.

AI Summary: Daggett introduces the concept of “petro-masculinity,” arguing that a desire for authoritarian control is deeply intertwined with the cultural and political narratives surrounding fossil fuels. She suggests that the dominance associated with oil and gas extraction fosters a particular brand of masculinity that aligns with hierarchical power structures and resistance to environmental regulations, thereby contributing to authoritarian tendencies.

Deutsch, Sandra McGee. Las Derechas: The Extreme Right in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, 1890-1939. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1999.

AI Summary: Deutsch provides a historical analysis of extreme right-wing movements in three Latin American countries, detailing their ideologies, organizational structures, and paths to power. This work illuminates how various forms of right-wing authoritarianism emerged and operated in the early 20th century, offering insights into the diverse factors—social, economic, and political—that can fuel the rise of anti-democratic forces.

Geddes, Barbara. How Dictatorships Work: Demise, Decay, and Renewal of Authoritarian Regimes. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018.

AI Summary: Geddes offers a comprehensive comparative analysis of different types of dictatorships, examining their internal dynamics, survival strategies, and eventual transitions. She provides empirical insights into how various authoritarian regimes maintain power, manage dissent, and respond to crises, shedding light on the mechanisms that enable their longevity or lead to their collapse.

Gilroy, Paul. Against Race: Imagining Political Culture Beyond the Color Line. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

AI Summary: Gilroy critiques the persistent power of racial thinking and its role in shaping political culture, arguing for a move beyond rigid racial categories. While not exclusively about authoritarianism, his work is relevant in understanding how essentialist racial identities can be manipulated and exploited by authoritarian regimes to divide populations, consolidate power, and justify exclusionary or oppressive policies.

Griffin, Roger. Fascism (Key Concepts in Political Theory). Cambridge: Polity Press, 2018.

AI Summary: Griffin’s work provides a foundational understanding of fascism as a political ideology, emphasizing its core concept of “palingenetic ultranationalism” – the belief in a national rebirth from perceived decadence. He argues that fascism, at its heart, is a revolutionary form of authoritarianism that seeks to create a radically new national community through a cult of strong leadership and the suppression of liberal democratic norms.

Klein, Naomi, and Astra Taylor. “The Rise of End Times Fascism.” The Intercept, November 15, 2023.

AI Summary: This article explores a contemporary form of fascism linked to apocalyptic thinking and environmental collapse, arguing that the anxieties of the “end times” are being weaponized by authoritarian movements. It suggests that this “end times fascism” leverages fear and a sense of impending doom to justify radical, often antidemocratic, solutions and a consolidation of power.

Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. New York: Crown, 2018.

AI Summary: Levitsky and Ziblatt analyze the insidious ways democracies can decay from within, often through the actions of elected leaders who gradually undermine democratic institutions, rather than through military coups. They identify key warning signs and historical patterns that lead to democratic backsliding and the rise of elected authoritarianism, emphasizing the importance of democratic norms and institutional safeguards.

Lewis, Sophie, and Asa Seresin. “Fascist Feminisms: A Dialogue.” Viewpoint Magazine, December 15, 2020.

AI Summary: This dialogue explores the paradoxical and unsettling concept of “fascist feminisms,” analyzing how certain strands of feminist thought might intersect with or be co-opted by authoritarian or reactionary political ideologies. It delves into how some movements, while claiming feminist goals, can simultaneously embrace hierarchical structures or exclusionary practices that ultimately serve an authoritarian agenda.

Mamdani, Mahmood. “Beyond settler and native as political identities: Overcoming the political legacy of colonialism.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 43, no. 4 (2001): 651-664.

AI Summary: Mamdani argues that the enduring political legacy of colonialism is the creation of rigid “settler” and “native” identities, which often form the basis for post-colonial authoritarianism and conflict. He contends that overcoming these imposed categories is crucial for building inclusive political communities and moving beyond the authoritarian divisions that colonialism instigated to maintain control.

Mamdani, Mahmood. “Citizen and subject: Contemporary Africa and the legacy of late colonialism.” Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996.

AI Summary: This foundational work explores how late colonialism in Africa created a dual system of rule: “citizens” governed by civil law in urban areas, and “subjects” ruled by customary law in rural areas, leading to a fragmented and often authoritarian state. Mamdani reveals how this inherited distinction continues to shape political exclusion and the exercise of power in post-colonial African states, perpetuating authoritarian legacies.

Mamdani, Mahmood. Define and Rule: Native as Political Identity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012.

AI Summary: Mamdani elaborates on how colonial powers used the concept of “native” as a political identity to establish and maintain their authoritarian rule, differentiating between populations to facilitate control. He analyzes how this administrative strategy created and reinforced ethnic divisions, which subsequently became embedded in post-colonial states, often contributing to new forms of authoritarian governance and conflict.

Mamdani, Mahmood. When Victims Become Killers: Colonialism, Nativism, and the Genocide in Rwanda. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001.

AI Summary: In this profound analysis, Mamdani connects the Rwandan genocide to the authoritarian administrative structures and identity politics imposed by colonial rule. He demonstrates how the colonial “define and rule” strategy created rigid ethnic categories, which, when combined with a post-colonial authoritarian state, facilitated the mobilization of populations towards violence, illustrating the devastating impact of inherited colonial authoritarianism.

Marasco, Robyn. “Reconsidering the Sexual Politics of Fascism.” Political Theory 48, no. 6 (2020): 692-717.

AI Summary: Marasco re-examines the often-overlooked sexual dimensions of fascist ideology and practice, moving beyond simplistic understandings of its gender politics. She explores how fascism, as an authoritarian movement, shaped and was shaped by specific notions of masculinity and femininity, family structures, and sexual control, revealing how these aspects were integral to its broader project of power and social order.

McManus, Matthew. The Political Right and Equality: Turning Back the Tide of Egalitarian Modernity. New York: Routledge, 2021.

AI Summary: McManus examines how various factions of the political right have historically and contemporarily resisted egalitarianism, a stance that often underpins authoritarian tendencies. He explores how their philosophical arguments and political actions aim to preserve or re-establish hierarchical social orders, which can lead to calls for stronger state control and the suppression of individual liberties in the name of tradition or order.

Memmi, Albert. Decolonization and the Decolonized. Translated by Bob Cummings. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2006.

AI Summary: This work examines the complex process of decolonization and its aftermath for those who lived under colonial rule. Memmi discusses how the legacy of colonial authoritarianism often lingers, influencing new forms of power dynamics and struggles for self-determination. It addresses the challenges faced by newly independent states in overcoming ingrained structures of control and forging a truly liberated society.

Memmi, Albert. The Colonizer and the Colonized. Translated by Howard Greenfeld. Boston: Beacon Press, 1967.

AI Summary: Memmi’s seminal work deeply explores the psychological and social dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized, illustrating how the colonial system inherently creates an authoritarian power structure. It highlights how this relationship relies on the dehumanization of the colonized and the assertion of absolute control by the colonizer, establishing a framework of domination that suppresses native identity and agency.

Memmi, Albert, Thomas Cassirer, and G. Michael Twomey. “The Impossible Life of Frantz Fanon.” The Massachusetts Review 14, no. 1 (1973): 9-39.

AI Summary: This article provides insight into the life and thought of Frantz Fanon, a key theorist of liberation from colonial oppression, whose work often analyzed the violent and authoritarian nature of colonialism. By exploring Fanon’s experiences and ideas, the piece indirectly touches upon how oppressive colonial systems necessitated a radical response, highlighting the inherently authoritarian character of colonial rule that Fanon sought to dismantle.

Moon, Ruth. Authoritarian Journalism: Controlling the News in Post-Conflict Rwanda. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023.

AI Summary: This book provides a contemporary case study of how authoritarian regimes control information, focusing specifically on journalism in post-conflict Rwanda. Moon investigates the mechanisms by which the state manipulates news narratives, suppresses dissent, and instrumentalizes media to consolidate power, offering a detailed look at the methods and impact of authoritarian control over the press in a modern context.

Mussolini, Benito, and Giovanni Gentile. The Doctrine of Fascism. Originally published in Enciclopedia Italiana, 1932.

AI Summary: This work, largely attributed to Mussolini, articulates the core tenets of Fascism, emphasizing the absolute primacy of the state, the subordination of the individual to the collective, and the necessity of a charismatic, authoritarian leader. It explicitly rejects liberal democracy, socialism, and individualism, advocating for a totalitarian state that controls all aspects of life to achieve national strength and unity.

Parker, Christopher S. and Tolwer, Christopher C. “Race and Authoritarianism in American Politics.” Annual Review of Political Science 29 (2019). doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-064519

AI Summary: This article examines the enduring relationship between race and authoritarian attitudes within the American political context. It explores how racial anxieties and perceptions can fuel support for authoritarian leaders and policies, demonstrating that authoritarianism is not solely a feature of non-democratic states but also a significant underlying current influencing political behavior and preferences within a democratic system.

Robinson, Cedric J. “Fascism and the Response of Black Radical Theorists.” Race & Class 49, no. 2 (2007): 39-52. (Originally published in 1982 in Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition).

AI Summary: Robinson’s work here examines how Black radical theorists critically engaged with and responded to the rise of fascism, analyzing its racist and authoritarian dimensions. It highlights how these thinkers understood fascism not merely as a European phenomenon but as an expression of systemic oppression, offering insights into how authoritarian ideologies intersect with racial power structures.

Schmitt, Carl. The Concept of the Political. Translated by George Schwab. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (Original German publication 1932).

AI Summary: Schmitt’s The Concept of the Political posits that the essence of politics lies in the distinction between friend and enemy, and that a true political order requires the sovereign’s ability to decide on this ultimate distinction, including the power to declare a state of exception. This framework provides a theoretical basis for a strong, decisive, and potentially authoritarian state that can override legal norms in times of crisis to protect its existence.

Schmitt, Carl. The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy. Translated by Ellen Kennedy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1988. (Original German publication 1923).

AI Summary: In The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy, Schmitt critiques the foundational principles of liberal parliamentarism, arguing that its reliance on open debate and compromise renders it ineffective in addressing fundamental political conflicts. He suggests that genuine political decision-making requires a more decisive and unified authority, laying intellectual groundwork for a move beyond democratic processes toward more authoritarian forms of governance.

Schmitt, Carl. Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty. Translated by George Schwab. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1985. (Original German publication 1922).

AI Summary: Schmitt’s Political Theology explores the origins of modern political concepts, arguing that fundamental ideas like sovereignty derive from theological concepts, particularly the idea of a transcendent God who can suspend the law. He posits that the sovereign’s power to declare a “state of exception” and act outside the law is the essence of sovereignty, providing a theological-legal justification for potentially authoritarian rule.

Sedgwick, Mark, ed. Key Thinkers of the Radical Right: Behind the New Threat to Liberal Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019.

AI Summary: This edited volume surveys the intellectual lineage of the radical right, often exploring thinkers whose ideas have contributed to or justified authoritarian or anti-democratic movements. By analyzing the core tenets of these diverse figures, the book illuminates the ideological underpinnings that frequently lead to calls for strong leadership, exclusionary politics, and the suppression of liberal democratic institutions.

Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the 20th Century. New York: Crown, 2017.

AI Summary: Snyder’s concise work draws lessons from 20th-century authoritarian and totalitarian regimes to offer warnings about the fragility of democracy and the rise of tyranny in the present day. He identifies specific historical patterns and behaviors that lead to authoritarianism, providing practical guidance for citizens to recognize and resist its emergence in their own societies.

Sonnevend, Julia, and Veronika Kövesdi. 2023. “More Than Just a Strongman: The Strategic Construction of Victor Orbán’s Charismatic Authority on Facebook.” The International Journal of Press/Politics 29 (4): 891–918. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612231179120

AI Summary: This article analyzes how Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán strategically uses Facebook to cultivate an image of charismatic authority, moving beyond simple strongman rhetoric to consolidate his authoritarian rule. It highlights the role of social media in modern authoritarianism, showing how digital platforms can be leveraged to build cults of personality and maintain power through sophisticated communication strategies.

Svolik, Milan. The Politics of Authoritarian Rule. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.

AI Summary: Svolik’s book provides a rigorous theoretical and empirical analysis of the fundamental political challenges faced by authoritarian regimes, particularly regarding power-sharing and political control. It explores why authoritarian leaders choose specific institutions and how they manage threats from within the elite and from the populace, offering insights into the stability and durability of different forms of authoritarian rule.

Taylor, Astra. “Traitors to the Earth: Fascism, Christian Nationalism, and the Tech Elite.” The Nation, October 24, 2023.

AI Summary: This article connects the rise of fascism and Christian nationalism to the ideologies and actions of certain tech elites, particularly concerning their approaches to environmental issues and societal control. Taylor argues that a desire for authoritarian solutions and a hierarchical world order underpins these seemingly disparate phenomena, highlighting how tech power can align with antidemocratic movements.

Treisman, Daniel. “How Great Is the Current Danger to Democracy? Assessing the Risk with Historical Data.” Comparative Political Studies 56, no. 12 (2023): 1924-1952.

AI Summary: Treisman’s article evaluates the contemporary threat to democracy by comparing current trends with historical patterns of democratic decline and authoritarian emergence. Using empirical data, he assesses whether present-day conditions truly represent an unprecedented danger or fall within historical norms, offering a data-driven perspective on the likelihood of democratic backsliding and the rise of authoritarianism.

Wintrobe, Ronald. The Political Economy of Dictatorship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.

AI Summary: Wintrobe’s book analyzes dictatorship through an economic lens, arguing that authoritarian regimes face unique dilemmas in balancing repression and loyalty to maintain power. He develops a model where dictators must decide how much to spend on controlling the population versus rewarding loyal elites, providing a framework for understanding the internal logic and stability of various authoritarian systems.

Wolin, Sheldon S. Democracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2008.

AI Summary: Wolin introduces the concept of “inverted totalitarianism,” arguing that contemporary American democracy has evolved into a system where corporate power and a managed political process create a form of totalitarianism that is subtle and depoliticizing, rather than overtly repressive. This theory suggests a pathway to authoritarianism that operates within the guise of democratic institutions, eroding citizen participation and accountability.

Wolf, Anne, ed. The Oxford Handbook of Authoritarian Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

AI Summary: This comprehensive handbook offers a broad overview of authoritarian politics, bringing together diverse scholarly perspectives on the nature, dynamics, and challenges of non-democratic regimes. It covers various aspects of authoritarian rule, including their institutions, strategies of survival, and the impact on society, providing a robust resource for understanding the complexities of contemporary authoritarianism.

The Zetkin Collective and Andreas Malm. White Skin, Black Fuel: On the Danger of Fossil Fascism. London: Verso, 2021.

AI Summary: This work argues that the intertwining of racial ideologies, fossil fuel interests, and right-wing political movements poses a severe threat, coining the term “fossil fascism.” It suggests that the defense of carbon-intensive industries and associated lifestyles can lead to increasingly authoritarian and exclusionary politics, highlighting a dangerous convergence of climate denial, white nationalism, and antidemocratic tendencies. Recent Work in Political Theory That Sheds Light on Authoritarianism

Anker, Elisabeth. Ugly Freedoms. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2022.

AI Summary: Anker examines how certain concepts of “freedom” in contemporary politics, particularly on the right, have become intertwined with exclusionary and even cruel practices. She reveals how these “ugly freedoms” can reinforce hierarchical power structures and enable authoritarian tendencies by normalizing indifference or hostility towards marginalized groups, often under the guise of individual liberty.

Beltrán, Cristina. Cruelty as Citizenship: How Migrant Suffering Sustains White Democracy. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2020.

AI Summary: Beltrán argues that the public performance and consumption of migrant suffering are not merely regrettable byproducts but central to the maintenance of “white democracy.” She demonstrates how the state’s capacity to inflict and display cruelty against migrants reinforces national boundaries and the power of dominant groups, operating as a mechanism of authoritarian control and exclusion.

Butler, Judith. Who’s Afraid of Gender?. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024.

AI Summary: Butler explores the global backlash against “gender ideology,” analyzing it as a cultural and political phenomenon that seeks to reassert traditional hierarchies and suppress diverse identities. This work examines how the fear of gender diversity is leveraged by conservative and authoritarian movements to centralize control over bodies, sexuality, and social norms, thereby reinforcing patriarchal and heteronormative power structures.

Feola, Michael. Rage of Replacement: Far-Right Politics and Demographic Fear. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024.

AI Summary: Feola investigates the concept of “demographic fear” and its role in fueling far-right politics globally, particularly the “great replacement” theory. He argues that this fear of demographic change serves as a powerful motivator for authoritarian movements, justifying exclusionary policies and xenophobic rhetoric aimed at maintaining perceived racial and cultural homogeneity.

Robin, Corey. The Reactionary Mind: Conservatism from Edmund Burke to Sarah Palin. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

AI Summary: Robin argues that conservatism is fundamentally a reaction against liberation movements, seeking to restore or defend existing forms of hierarchy and power against challenges from below. He shows how conservative thought, across different eras, consistently aims to reassert the authority of dominant groups, often employing mechanisms that underpin authoritarian control to maintain social order.

Singh, Nikhil Pal. Race and America’s Long War. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2017.

AI Summary: Singh examines the interconnected histories of racial formation, imperial expansion, and the “war on terror” in the United States, arguing that they constitute a continuous “long war” against internal and external enemies. He reveals how mechanisms of racialized state violence and surveillance, developed over centuries, reinforce an enduring and often authoritarian power structure that targets specific populations.

Slobodian, Quinn. Hayek’s Bastards: The Populist Right and the Battle for the Free Market. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2023.

AI Summary: Slobodian traces the intellectual lineage of the populist right’s relationship with the “free market,” arguing that contemporary movements draw on illiberal traditions within neoliberal thought. He suggests that certain strands of free-market ideology, exemplified by thinkers like Hayek, inherently contain anti-democratic elements that can be mobilized to justify authoritarian economic and political interventions.

French Continental Thought

Althusser, Louis. On the Reproduction of Capitalism: Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses. Translated by G.M. Goshgarian. London: Verso, 2014. *

AI Summary: This work explains how capitalist societies, and by extension potentially authoritarian states, maintain power through “Ideological State Apparatuses” (ISAs) like education and religion. These ISAs subtly indoctrinate individuals into accepting dominant ideologies, thereby reproducing the conditions for the continuation of existing power structures without overt force.

Bataille, Georges. The Accursed Share, Vol. 1: Consumption. Translated by Robert Hurley. New York: Zone Books, 1988. *

AI Summary: Bataille’s concept of a “general economy” posits that societies deal with an excess of energy that must be spent, either productively or non-productively. Authoritarian regimes can be seen as attempting to channel this excess into productive, controlled forms or into destructive, sacrificial acts that reinforce their power and suppress other modes of expenditure.

Bataille, Georges. Visions of Excess: Selected Writings, 1927-1939. Edited by Allan Stoekl. Translated by Allan Stoekl, Carl R. Lovitt, and Donald M. Leslie Jr. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1985. *

AI Summary: This collection explores themes of transgression, sovereignty, and the sacred, which challenge conventional rational order. Authoritarian power often attempts to suppress or co-opt such transgressive forces, while Bataille suggests that true sovereignty lies in an experience of limit and excess beyond rational control.

Baudrillard, Jean. For a Critique of the Political Economy of the Sign. Translated by Charles Levin. St. Louis, MO: Telos Press, 1981. *

AI Summary: Baudrillard analyzes how signs and symbols function in society, moving beyond their communicative aspect to their role in systems of power and value. This work demonstrates how authoritarian or consumerist systems gain power by controlling the production and circulation of signs, shaping desires and perceptions.

Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulation. Translated by Sheila Faria Glaser. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1994. *

AI Summary: Baudrillard argues that in hyperreal societies, the distinction between reality and its representation collapses, leading to “simulacra” that precede the real. This condition can be exploited by authoritarian powers that operate through the construction of artificial realities, making it difficult to discern truth and effectively control populations through mediated experience.

Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Translated by Richard Nice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984. *

AI Summary: Bourdieu reveals how social hierarchies and power relations are reproduced and legitimized through cultural taste and lifestyle choices. Authoritarian systems can reinforce their power by imposing specific cultural norms and delegitimizing dissenting “tastes” or “habitus,” thereby perpetuating social domination through symbolic violence.

Bourdieu, Pierre. Outline of a Theory of Practice. Translated by Richard Nice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977. *

AI Summary: This book introduces key concepts like habitus and field, explaining how individuals’ dispositions are shaped by their social environment. Power operates through these structured social fields, subtly influencing individual actions and perceptions to maintain existing social orders, which can underpin authoritarian control.

Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari. Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Translated by Robert Hurley, Mark Seem, and Helen R. Lane. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1983. *

AI Summary: This work critiques how desire is repressed and channeled by societal structures, particularly capitalism and the family (Oedipus), leading to neuroses and conformity. It argues that political power, including authoritarianism, functions by “coding” and “territorializing” desire, preventing its free flow and reinforcing oppressive social forms.

Deleuze, Gilles, and Félix Guattari. A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Translated by Brian Massumi. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1987. *

AI Summary: Continuing their critique of traditional power structures, Deleuze and Guattari introduce concepts like “rhizomes,” “smooth and striated space,” and “war machines.” They analyze how various forms of power (state, disciplinary) attempt to “striate” and control flows of desire and creativity, while “rhizomatic” forms of resistance offer potential ways to subvert authoritarian tendencies.

Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology. Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976. *

AI Summary: Derrida’s deconstruction challenges logocentrism and the idea of a fixed, foundational meaning, arguing that meaning is always deferred and unstable. By exposing the inherent instability of language and established concepts, deconstruction implicitly undermines the claims to absolute truth and authority often wielded by authoritarian regimes.

Foucault, Michel. Abnormal: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1974–1975. Edited by Valerio Marchetti and Antonella Salomoni. Translated by Graham Burchell. New York: Picador, 2003. *

AI Summary: These lectures explore the historical construction of categories like the “abnormal,” the “monster,” and the “delinquent,” and the power mechanisms used to identify and control such individuals. Foucault demonstrates how defining and managing abnormality is a key strategy for social control and maintaining the norms enforced by power.

Foucault, Michel. The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1978–1979. Edited by Michel Senellart. Translated by Graham Burchell. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. *

AI Summary: Foucault examines the emergence of liberalism and neoliberalism as forms of governmentality that manage populations through economic rationalities rather than direct coercion. He shows how economic freedom becomes a tool for governmental control, subtly guiding individual conduct in ways that reinforce specific power structures.

Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Translated by Alan Sheridan. New York: Vintage Books, 1977. *

AI Summary: This seminal work analyzes the shift from spectacle punishment to disciplinary power, exemplified by the prison and institutions like schools and factories. Foucault argues that modern power operates by observing, normalizing, and individualizing subjects, leading to self-regulation that is more pervasive and subtle than overt authoritarian repression.

Foucault, Michel. Ethics, Subjectivity and Truth: Essential Works of Foucault, 1954-1984, Vol. 1. Edited by Paul Rabinow. New York: The New Press, 1997. *

AI Summary: This collection includes “The Subject and Power,” where Foucault clarifies his analytical framework for understanding power as a complex set of relations rather than a possession. He emphasizes that power is not just repressive but productive, shaping subjects and allowing for both domination and resistance, crucial for understanding how authoritarian systems function.

Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: An Introduction. Translated by Robert Hurley. New York: Vintage Books, 1978. *

AI Summary: Foucault challenges the “repressive hypothesis” of sexuality, arguing that power doesn’t merely forbid but actively produces discourses and categories of sexuality. This “biopower” manages life, health, and populations, becoming a core mechanism of control that can be intensified in authoritarian contexts to regulate bodies and desires.

Foucault, Michel. Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason. Translated by Richard Howard. New York: Vintage Books, 1988. *

AI Summary: Foucault traces the historical exclusion and confinement of the “mad,” arguing that madness was not simply discovered but constituted through social practices and institutions. This illustrates how power operates by defining and segregating categories of people, providing a historical precedent for how authoritarian regimes marginalize and control dissenting elements.

Foucault, Michel. The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. *

AI Summary: Foucault explores the historical shifts in “epistemes” or fundamental structures of knowledge that organize how reality is understood. These deep-seated conceptual frameworks implicitly exert power by defining what is knowable and speakable, thereby circumscribing thought and potentially limiting forms of resistance against dominant power structures.

Foucault, Michel. Psychiatric Power: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1973–1974. Edited by Jacques Lagrange. Translated by Graham Burchell. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. *

AI Summary: These lectures detail the specific forms of power operating within psychiatric institutions, where medical knowledge and practices become tools for managing and controlling individuals. Foucault reveals how diagnostic categories and therapeutic interventions function as disciplinary mechanisms that exert profound power over subjects’ lives and identities.

Foucault, Michel. The Punitive Society: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1972–1973. Edited by Bernard E. Harcourt. Translated by Graham Burchell. New York: Picador, 2015. *

AI Summary: This lecture series delves into the emergence of the prison and the broader carceral system, showing how it functions beyond mere punishment to reshape individuals and society. Foucault explores the historical development of disciplinary power that seeks to normalize and control through constant surveillance and systematic organization, forming a core aspect of state power.

Foucault, Michel. Security, Territory, Population: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1977–1978. Edited by Michel Senellart. Translated by Graham Burchell. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. *

AI Summary: Foucault introduces the concept of “governmentality,” analyzing the historical forms of reason of state and police that manage populations, territories, and security. He demonstrates how political power shifts from sovereign control over individuals to the management of collective life, creating frameworks that can be adapted for authoritarian rule.

Foucault, Michel. “Society Must Be Defended”: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1975–1976. Edited by Mauro Bertani and Alessandro Fontana. Translated by David Macey. New York: Picador, 2003. *

AI Summary: In these lectures, Foucault posits that power relations are fundamentally about warfare, where society is defended against internal and external “enemies.” He develops the concept of biopower, showing how modern states exert power over life itself, regulating populations and reinforcing social norms in ways that can be intensified under authoritarianism.

Kristeva, Julia. Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection. Translated by Leon S. Roudiez. New York: Columbia University Press, 1982. *

AI Summary: Kristeva explores the “abject” as that which threatens societal order and identity, something that must be expelled to maintain social boundaries. Authoritarian regimes often rely on the creation and expulsion of an “abject other” (e.g., ethnic minorities, political dissidents) to consolidate their power and enforce conformity.

Kristeva, Julia. Revolution in Poetic Language. Translated by Margaret Waller. New York: Columbia University Press, 1984. *

AI Summary: Kristeva investigates the forces that disrupt the symbolic order of language, arguing that poetic language can challenge established meanings and social norms. Authoritarian power thrives on stable, univocal meaning, and this work implicitly highlights how the disruptive potential of language can undermine such rigid control.

Lefort, Claude. The Political Forms of Modern Society: Bureaucracy, Democracy, Totalitarianism. Edited and translated by John B. Thompson. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1986.

AI Summary: Lefort analyzes totalitarianism as a regime that attempts to eliminate the “empty place” of power, which is characteristic of democracy, by incarnating power in a single party or leader. This results in the complete absorption of civil society by the state and the suppression of all dissent, making it a crucial text for understanding the symbolic nature of totalitarian power.

Levinas, Emmanuel. Difficult Freedom: Essays on Judaism. Translated by Seán Hand. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990. *

AI Summary: This collection explores the ethical demands of Jewish thought, often presenting a critique of totalizing systems and self-sufficient philosophies. Levinas’s emphasis on responsibility for the “Other” provides a strong ethical counterpoint to any form of authoritarianism that would subjugate or deny the unique individual.

Levinas, Emmanuel. Otherwise than Being, or Beyond Essence. Translated by Alphonso Lingis. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1981. *

AI Summary: Levinas further develops his concept of subjectivity as being fundamentally “for the other,” rooted in an infinite, non-reciprocal ethical responsibility. This philosophy stands in stark opposition to authoritarian thought, which seeks to reduce individuals to categories or subsume them within a collective “essence,” thereby negating their unique ethical claim.

Levinas, Emmanuel. Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority. Translated by Alphonso Lingis. Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1969. *

AI Summary: This foundational work critiques the philosophical tradition’s tendency towards “totality,” where difference is absorbed into the same, and the “Other” is comprehended rather than truly encountered. Levinas argues that authoritarianism is a political manifestation of this totalizing impulse, which seeks to eliminate exteriority and suppress the irreducible alterity of individuals.

Lyotard, Jean-François. The Differend: Phrases in Dispute. Translated by Georges Van Den Abbeele. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1988. *

AI Summary: Lyotard introduces the concept of the “differend” as a conflict between two parties that cannot be resolved justly because there is no common rule of judgment applicable to both. This highlights how authoritarian power silences marginalized voices by denying them the linguistic means to articulate their grievances within the dominant framework.

Lyotard, Jean-François. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. Translated by Geoff Bennington and Brian Massumi. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984. *

AI Summary: Lyotard famously defines postmodernism as “incredulity toward metanarratives,” critiquing the grand, overarching narratives (e.g., of emancipation or progress) that have historically legitimized political power. Authoritarian regimes often rely on such totalizing narratives to justify their rule, and Lyotard’s work undermines the epistemic foundations of such power.

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. Adventures of the Dialectic. Translated by Joseph Bien. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1973. *

AI Summary: Merleau-Ponty critically examines the dialectical thinking found in some Marxist thought, specifically warning against versions that could lead to authoritarian political outcomes. He emphasizes the unpredictable and open-ended nature of history and human action, implicitly rejecting rigid ideological systems that attempt to control social development.

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. Phenomenology of Perception. Translated by Colin Smith. London: Routledge, 2002. *

AI Summary: Merleau-Ponty’s focus on the embodied subject and the “flesh of the world” emphasizes the irreducible complexity and ambiguity of human experience. This phenomenological perspective implicitly critiques any authoritarian system that seeks to impose a rigid, abstract order over lived reality, denying individual experience and embodiment.

Rancière, Jacques. Disagreement: Politics and Philosophy. Translated by Julie Rose. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999.

AI Summary: Rancière distinguishes between “police” (the order of domination that distributes who can speak and be seen) and “politics” (the disruptive act of challenging that order). Authoritarianism is the extreme manifestation of the “police” order, suppressing dissent by denying the very capacity of certain groups to participate in the political sphere.

Rancière, Jacques. Hatred of Democracy. Translated by Steve Corcoran. London: Verso, 2006.

AI Summary: This work analyzes the contemporary disdain for democracy, often stemming from a misunderstanding of its nature as an unruly and potentially disorderly process. Rancière implicitly counters authoritarian tendencies by defending democracy as a continuous process of challenging established hierarchies and empowering those who are normally excluded from power. Recommended Africana Thought

Achebe, Chinua. A Man of the People. London: Heinemann, 1966.

AI Summary: This novel satirizes post-colonial African politics, highlighting how corruption and self-interest among leaders can undermine democratic processes. It illustrates the gradual slide into a new form of authoritarianism as power becomes concentrated and unaccountable, often betraying the hopes of independence.

Armah, Ayi Kwei. The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born. London: Heinemann, 1968.

AI Summary: This novel depicts the widespread corruption and moral disillusionment in post-independence Ghana, revealing how the dreams of national liberation can be undermined by systemic graft. It implicitly comments on the failure to establish genuinely equitable governance, leading to a form of societal decay that can pave the way for or characterize authoritarian rule.

Baldwin, James. Notes of a Native Son. Boston: Beacon Press, 1955.

AI Summary: Baldwin’s essays delve into the profound psychological and social impacts of racism in America, exposing the systemic injustices faced by Black individuals. He critiques the deeply ingrained oppressive structures that maintain racial hierarchies, which function as a pervasive and dehumanizing mechanism of power akin to authoritarian control.

Biko, Steve. I Write What I Like: Selected Writings. Edited by Aelred Stubbs. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002.

AI Summary: This collection articulates Steve Biko’s philosophy of Black Consciousness, advocating for psychological and political liberation from the white supremacist apartheid regime in South Africa. Biko’s work directly challenges the authoritarian state’s efforts to control Black minds and bodies, promoting self-reliance as a powerful form of resistance.

Césaire, Suzanne. The Great Camouflage: Writings of Dissent (1941-1945). Edited by Daniel Maximin, translated by Keith L. Walker. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2012.

AI Summary: This collection features Suzanne Césaire’s anti-colonial and anti-fascist writings, articulating resistance through surrealist aesthetics during wartime. Her essays challenge the oppressive nature of both overt political authoritarianism and the more insidious forms of colonial intellectual control.

Collins, Patricia Hill. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. New York: Routledge, 2022.

AI Summary: Collins’s foundational work uses Black women’s experiences to illuminate how power operates through intersecting systems of oppression (race, gender, class). It provides a critical framework for analyzing how these interwoven structures create and maintain hierarchical and authoritarian social controls.

Crenshaw, Kimberle. “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics.” University of Chicago Legal Forum 1 (1989): 139–67.

AI Summary: Crenshaw’s article introduces “intersectionality” to highlight how legal and theoretical frameworks often fail to address the compounded discrimination faced by Black women. This reveals how multiple, overlapping mechanisms of power intensify marginalization, reinforcing a more complex and pervasive system of oppression than simple single-axis analyses might capture.

Dangarembga, Tsitsi. Black and Female: Essays. New York: Graywolf Press, 2022.

AI Summary: Dangarembga’s essays explore the complex realities of being Black and female in postcolonial and global contexts, critiquing the enduring legacies of colonialism, racism, and patriarchy. Her work illuminates how these intersecting systems of power maintain conditions of oppression, often mirroring or sustaining authoritarian social dynamics that limit freedom and self-determination

Davies, Carole Boyce. Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia Jones. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2007.

AI Summary: Davies’s biography details the political life of Claudia Jones, a prominent Black communist and feminist activist who fought against racial, gender, and class oppression. The book illustrates how radical political engagement challenged intertwined systems of authoritarian control in the US and UK during the 20th century.

Davis, Angela Yvonne, ed. If They Come in the Morning: Voices of Resistance. New York: Vintage Books, 1971.

AI Summary: Davis curates essays and firsthand accounts reflecting on political repression, prisons, and radical resistance—a lens through which authortarian and fascist state mechanisms (e.g., mass arrests, criminalization of dissent) are examined in the U.S.

Davis, Angela Yvonne. Women, Race and Class. New York: Random House, 1981.

AI Summary: Taking a Marxist‑feminist historical lens, this collection of essays dissects how capitalist, racist, and patriarchal power structures intertwine—providing a foundational critique of authoritarian ideology embedded in social institutions.

Douglas, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written by Himself. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2004. (Originally published 1845).

AI Summary: Douglass’s autobiography is a firsthand account of the brutal realities of slavery, unequivocally exposing its inherent authoritarian and dehumanizing nature. It details the mechanisms of absolute control used by enslavers and chronicles his personal struggle for liberation, serving as a powerful testament to resistance against extreme oppression.

Du Bois, W. E. B. The Souls of Black Folk. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. (Originally published 1903).

AI Summary: Du Bois’s seminal work introduces “double consciousness,” highlighting the internal conflict of Black Americans living under systemic racism. He critiques the social and political structures that perpetuate racial oppression, revealing how these mechanisms function as an insidious form of authoritarian control over Black lives and identities.

Fanon, Frantz. Black Skin, White Masks. Translated by Charles Lam Markmann. London: Paladin, 1970. (Originally published 1952).

AI Summary: Fanon explores the profound psychological impact of colonialism and racism on the colonized individual, dissecting how internalized oppression and the gaze of the colonizer distort self-perception. He argues for a psychological liberation from these authoritarian mental structures as a crucial step towards true decolonization.

Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. Translated by Constance Farrington. New York: Grove Press, 1963. (Originally published 1961).

AI Summary: Fanon analyzes the psychology of colonial oppression and advocates for revolutionary violence as a cathartic and necessary act for the colonized to reclaim their humanity. He also critically examines the pitfalls of post-colonial leadership, warning against the potential for new forms of authoritarianism to emerge if true liberation is not achieved.

Gqola, Pumla Dineo. Rape: A South African Nightmare. Johannesburg: MF Books, 2015.

AI Summary: Gqola examines rape in post-apartheid South Africa as a systemic issue, not just individual acts, rooted in historical violence and patriarchy. Her work highlights how gendered violence operates as a mechanism of control, revealing the persistence of authoritarian power dynamics within society even after formal political transitions.

Hall, Stuart. Essential Essays: Foundations of Cultural Studies, vol. 1. Edited by David Morley. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2018.

AI Summary: Stuart Hall’s essays provide foundational analyses of power, representation, and ideology within cultural studies. His work offers critical tools for understanding how dominant cultural narratives and media representations contribute to social control and can implicitly reinforce or legitimate authoritarian systems.

Hare, Nathan. “Black Ecology.” The Black Scholar 1, no. 6 (1970): 2-8.

AI Summary: Hare introduces “Black ecology,” arguing for the interconnectedness of environmental degradation and racial oppression. He highlights how marginalized Black communities disproportionately suffer from ecological injustices, linking environmental exploitation to systemic power imbalances and an authoritarian disregard for the well-being of specific populations.

Hartman, Saidiya. Scenes of Subjection: Terror, Slavery, and Self-Making in Nineteenth-Century America. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2022. (Originally published 1997).

AI Summary: Hartman’s work meticulously examines the terror and violence inherent in American slavery, revealing it as an extreme authoritarian system designed to control Black bodies and minds. She explores the daily practices of power that shaped enslaved individuals’ lives, while also acknowledging their acts of resistance and self-creation within this oppressive framework.

Jackson, George. Blood in My Eye. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1975.

AI Summary: Written from prison, this work offers George Jackson’s radical critique of the American carceral system, capitalism, and racism, advocating for revolutionary change. The book powerfully exposes the state’s authoritarian tactics used to suppress Black liberation movements and highlights the inherent violence of systems of oppression.

Jacobs, Harriet A. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself. Edited by Jean Fagan Yellin. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2009. (Originally published 1861).

AI Summary: This autobiography provides a vital account of slavery from a Black woman’s perspective, emphasizing the unique forms of sexual violence and control endured by enslaved women. It powerfully illustrates the absolute and often gendered authoritarian power wielded by slaveholders, and the desperate struggle for autonomy and freedom.

James, C. L. R. The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. (Originally published 1938).

AI Summary: James’s historical account details the Haitian Revolution, demonstrating how enslaved people successfully overthrew the brutal authoritarianism of the French colonial and slave system. The book underscores the agency of the oppressed in dismantling entrenched power structures and achieving self-liberation.

Kraidy, Marwan M. The Naked Blogger of Cairo: Creative Insurgency in the Arab World. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016.

AI Summary: Kraidy examines how digital media and creative expression became tools of resistance against authoritarian regimes during the Arab Spring. The book highlights the ongoing tension between state control and citizens’ innovative strategies to challenge power and disseminate dissent in oppressive contexts.

Lorde, Audre. “The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism.” Women’s Studies Quarterly 25, no. 1/2 (1997): 278-285. (Originally a speech from 1981).

AI Summary: Lorde’s essay argues for anger as a legitimate and necessary response to racism and other forms of oppression, rather than a negative emotion to be suppressed. She asserts that transforming anger into a catalyst for change is vital for challenging systemic injustices and resisting authoritarian power structures.

Mamdani, Mahmood. Citizen and Subject: Contemporary Africa and the Legacy of Late Colonialism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2018. (Originally published 1996).

AI Summary: Mamdani argues that late colonialism created a dual system of rule in Africa, distinguishing “citizens” from “subjects” and thereby laying the groundwork for post-colonial authoritarianism. He shows how this inherited distinction facilitated political exclusion and continues to shape the exercise of power in African states.

Mandela, Nelson. Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. New York: Back Bay Books, 1994.

AI Summary: Mandela’s autobiography chronicles his lifelong struggle against the apartheid regime, a profoundly authoritarian and racist system in South Africa. It details his imprisonment and leadership in the fight for liberation, serving as a powerful testament to sustained resistance against state-sanctioned oppression and the pursuit of a democratic society.

Mbembe, Achille. On the Postcolony. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

AI Summary: Mbembe critically analyzes the nature of power, sovereignty, and subjectivity in postcolonial Africa, moving beyond simplistic narratives of liberation. He explores how new forms of power can mimic or adapt colonial authoritarian practices, examining the complex realities of governance and resistance in states grappling with their historical legacies.

Mbembe, Achille. Out of the Dark Night: Essays on Decolonization. Translated by A. F. Sykas. New York: Columbia University Press, 2020.

AI Summary: Mbembe’s essays deepen his exploration of decolonization, examining the continued relevance of colonial power structures in contemporary global arrangements. He critiques the persistent forms of subjugation and the challenges of achieving genuine liberation from systems that operate with an authoritarian logic, even after formal independence.

Mbembe, Achille. Critique of Black Reason. Translated by Laurent Dubois. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2017.

AI Summary: Mbembe critically analyzes the concept of “Black Reason” as a construct born from the history of slavery and colonialism, shaping both the perception and experience of Blackness. He interrogates how this “reason” functions as a mechanism of power, defining and controlling Black subjectivity within global capitalist and racialized systems that exhibit authoritarian characteristics.

Mills, Charles W. “White Ignorance.” In Race and Epistemologies of Ignorance, edited by Shannon Sullivan and Nancy Tuana, 26–31. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2007.

AI Summary: Mills introduces “white ignorance,” arguing that racial oppression is sustained not only by overt prejudice but also by systematic non-knowing and wilful disregard within dominant white society regarding the realities of racial injustice. This intellectual mechanism serves to perpetuate racial hierarchy and obscure the workings of power, thereby maintaining a subtle form of authoritarian racial control.

Newton, Huey P. Revolutionary Suicide. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973.

AI Summary: Written from prison, this work offers George Jackson’s radical critique of the American carceral system, capitalism, and racism, advocating for revolutionary change. The book powerfully exposes the state’s authoritarian tactics used to suppress Black liberation movements and highlights the inherent violence of systems of oppression. Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya, 1986. AI Summary: Ngugi argues that true decolonization requires liberation from the linguistic and cultural imperialism imposed by colonial powers. He critiques how the dominance of European languages perpetuates a form of intellectual and cultural authoritarianism, advocating for the reclamation of indigenous languages as a crucial step towards genuine self-determination.

Nyabola, Nanjala. Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by a Life on the Move. London: Hurst & Company, 2020.

AI Summary: Nyabola’s essays explore the intersection of race, identity, and global mobility, detailing the experiences of a Black African woman navigating various international spaces. While not explicitly about state authoritarianism, the collection implicitly highlights how systemic racism, border regimes, and societal biases create conditions of restricted freedom and vulnerability that mirror or reinforce authoritarian control over marginalized bodie

Odinga, Jaramogi Oginga. Not Yet Uhuru: The Autobiography of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. London: Heinemann, 1967.

AI Summary: Odinga’s autobiography recounts his role in Kenya’s independence struggle and his subsequent disillusionment with the post-colonial political landscape. The title, “Not Yet Uhuru” (meaning freedom), reflects his critique of the perceived failures of independent leadership to deliver genuine liberation for the masses, implicitly pointing to the emergence of new forms of power that undermined democratic ideals.

Otieno, Wambui Waiyaki. Mau Mau’s Daughter: A Life History. Edited by Cora Ann Presley. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998.

AI Summary: This life history provides a personal account of a woman’s experience during Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising and its aftermath, offering insight into anti-colonial resistance against British authoritarian rule. It sheds light on the lived realities of struggle, resilience, and the enduring impact of colonial violence and post-independence challenges.

Robinson, Cedric J. Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020. (Originally published 1983).

AI Summary: Robinson critiques orthodox Marxism and introduces the “Black Radical Tradition,” arguing that Black liberation struggles have a distinct historical and theoretical lineage against racial oppression. His work reveals how systemic racism and colonialism created unique forms of oppression that necessitated specific forms of resistance against authoritarian power structures.

Salami, Mina. Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone. New York: Amistad, 2020.

AI Summary: Salami advocates for “sensuous knowledge,” a Black feminist approach that foregrounds intuition and lived experience as crucial ways of knowing that challenge dominant epistemologies. This work critiques the exclusionary and often authoritarian tendencies of conventional knowledge systems, proposing an alternative for understanding power and reality.

Saro-Wiwa, Ken. Genocide in Nigeria: The Ogoni Tragedy. Port Harcourt: Saros International Publishers, 1992.

AI Summary: Saro-Wiwa’s urgent work documents the ecological devastation and human rights abuses suffered by the Ogoni people in Nigeria due to oil extraction, exposing the complicity of the state and multinational corporations. It powerfully illustrates how state power can act with authoritarian brutality to suppress environmental activism and exploit marginalized communities.

Sissako, Abderrahmane, director. Timbuktu. Les Films du Fleuve, Arte France Cinéma, 2014. Film.

AI Summary: This film powerfully depicts the impact of jihadist rule on the inhabitants of Timbuktu, illustrating the brutal and arbitrary nature of religious extremism and authoritarian control. Through its narrative, the film explores the destruction of culture, the suppression of freedoms, and the resilience of humanity in the face of absolute power.

Spillers, Hortense J. Black, White, and in Color: Essays on American Literature and Culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.

AI Summary: Spillers’s groundbreaking essays analyze the intersections of race, gender, and power in American culture, particularly focusing on the “anatomical inscription” of racial slavery on Black bodies. Her work illuminates how oppressive systems create and enforce categories of identity, revealing the deep-seated authoritarian logic embedded in racial hierarchies.

Tamale, Sylvia. Decolonization and Afro-Feminism. Ottawa: Daraja Press, 2020.

AI Summary: Tamale argues for an Afro-feminist approach to decolonization, emphasizing that true liberation must challenge not only colonial legacies but also patriarchal structures and other internal oppressions within African societies. Her work highlights how these intersecting power dynamics contribute to various forms of authoritarian control, particularly over women’s bodies and lives.

Tamale, Sylvia, ed. African Sexualities: A Reader. Oxford: Fahamu Books, 2011.

AI Summary: This edited collection explores the diverse landscape of African sexualities, challenging Eurocentric norms and addressing the impact of colonialism, religion, and patriarchal structures on sexual expression and identity. The work implicitly critiques the authoritarian control over bodies and desires that often results from the imposition of external moralities or traditional power structures.

Tolan-Szkilnik, Paraska. Maghreb Noir: The Militant-Artists of North Africa and the Struggle for a Pan-African, Postcolonial Future. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2023.

AI Summary: Tolan-Szkilnik’s book explores how militant artists in North Africa used their creative work as a form of resistance against colonial rule and in pursuit of a pan-African, postcolonial future. It illuminates how artistic expression can challenge authoritarian power structures and contribute to movements for liberation and self-determination.

Valentine, Desiree. “Technologies of Reproduction: Race, Disability, and Neoliberal Eugenics.” Journal of Philosophy of Disability 1 (2021): 35-55.

AI Summary: Valentine critically examines how reproductive technologies intersect with race, disability, and neoliberal eugenics, arguing they can perpetuate discriminatory practices rooted in historical and contemporary power imbalances. This article implicitly highlights how state and market forces can exert authoritarian control over bodies and reproductive choices, reinforcing social hierarchies.

Vernon, Ayesha. “The Dialectics of Multiple Identities and the Disabled People’s Movement.” Disability & Society 14, no. 4 (1999): 515-520.

AI Summary: Vernon’s article explores how disabled individuals navigate multiple intersecting identities and how these complex positionalities shape their experiences within the disabled people’s movement. It indirectly touches on how societal norms and power structures, often exclusionary and authoritarian, create barriers and inform strategies for collective resistance against marginalization.

Wilderson, Frank B. Afropessimism. New York: Liveright, 2021.

AI Summary: Wilderson’s Afropessimism posits that Blackness is fundamentally defined by gratuitous violence and an ontological position of slavery that persists beyond historical bondage. This framework offers a radical critique of existing social and political structures, arguing that anti-Black racism is foundational to modern society, implying a pervasive and fundamental authoritarianism against Black life.

Wynter, Sylvia. Black Metamorphosis: New Natives in a New World. Unpublished manuscript, IBW Papers, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York.

AI Summary: Wynter’s extensive unpublished work explores the historical and philosophical transformations of Black identity, critiquing Western humanism and its exclusionary categories. Her theory analyzes how various systems of knowledge and power have created and maintained a subordinate status for Black people, providing a foundational critique of deeply embedded authoritarian modes of thought and societal organization.

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