Democratic Transition Game
Consider the case that you are a soft-liner in an authoritarian regime who would like to introduce a policy of liberalization. Your goal is to co-opt the opposition into a broadened dictatorship, not to transition to democracy. You are a dictator, not a democrat!
1. If you open and civil society enters, then you achieve your objective of a Broadened Dictatorship.
2. If you open and civil society organizes, then you need to decide whether to democratize and become a full democracy or to repress.
3. A successful repression will lead to a narrow dictatorship, whereas an unsuccessful repression will lead to insurgency.
4. Repression is successful only if civil society is weak.
Figure 1

Figure 2

-What is the outcome of the game shown in Figure 1?
A) status quo
B) broadened dictatorship
C) narrow dictatorship
D) full democracy

Question

Democratic Transition Game
Consider the case that you are a soft-liner in an authoritarian regime who would like to introduce a policy of liberalization. Your goal is to co-opt the opposition into a broadened dictatorship, not to transition to democracy. You are a dictator, not a democrat!
1. If you open and civil society enters, then you achieve your objective of a Broadened Dictatorship.
2. If you open and civil society organizes, then you need to decide whether to democratize and become a full democracy or to repress.
3. A successful repression will lead to a narrow dictatorship, whereas an unsuccessful repression will lead to insurgency.
4. Repression is successful only if civil society is weak.
Figure 1
  
Figure 2
 
-What is the outcome of the game shown in Figure 1?
A) status quo 
B) broadened dictatorship 
C) narrow dictatorship 
D) full democracy

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Figure 1, if the dictator opens up, civil society will enter and the dictator will achieve their objective of a broadened dictatorship. This is the best choice for the dictator as it meets their goals without risking a potential transition to democracy or facing insurgency from civil society.

Democratic Transition Game Consider the Case That You Are a Soft-Liner in an Soft-Liner