AUTHORITARIANISM AND POLITICAL CONFLICT

In this chapter we review recent research on authoritarianism with the goal of addressing major issues of conceptualization, measurement, and political consequences. We highlight a conceptualization of authoritarianism that identifies the desire for social cohesion and defense of ingroup norms as central to the dynamics of authoritarianism. The consequences of authoritarianism-intolerance of dissent, out-group animosity, and support for anti-democratic leaders and parties-are a result of the experience of threat to social cohesion among those with authoritarian predispositions. Threats may be associated with processes of social change (changing gender norms) or changes to the status of the majority group from immigration. There is also some evidence that those low in authoritarianism may respond to existential threats (terrorism) with support for increased security. The role of threat in the dynamics of authoritarianism helps to provide a basis for understanding the conditions under which authoritarianism becomes a politically potent force.