A الديمقراطية المستبدة Authoritarian Democracy

Abstract

This paper critically examines the paradox of authoritarian democracy, arguing that democratic institutions may function as mechanisms for reproducing authoritarian rule rather than guaranteeing popular sovereignty. Moving beyond the conventional understanding of despotism as individual tyranny, the study analyzes how contemporary political systems employ democratic discourse, electoral legitimacy, and constitutional procedures to consolidate power while excluding genuine public participation. Using a philosophical and critical approach, the paper explores the structural features of authoritarian democracy in the Arab context, including political violence, electoral manipulation, hereditary succession, one-party dominance, the marginalization of intellectual elites, emergency governance, and the absence of peaceful transfers of power. The analysis demonstrates that authoritarian democracy transforms democracy into a symbolic political performance in which institutions preserve the appearance of legitimacy while reinforcing centralized authority. The study concludes that democratic transformation cannot be achieved through procedural reforms alone but requires rebuilding political legitimacy on the principles of citizenship, the rule of law, human dignity, institutional accountability, and active civic participation. Genuine democracy is therefore understood not merely as an electoral mechanism but as a comprehensive political culture capable of preventing the reproduction of authoritarian domination.