Autocracies

Stability and succession

Autocracies face challenges to their authority from several fronts, including the citizenry, political opposition, and internal disloyalty from elites. As autocrats must share their power with the state's elites to see their will carried out, these elites are the greatest threat to the autocrat. Most autocratic governments are overthrown by a coup, and historically most have been succeeded by another autocratic government, though a trend toward democracy developed in 20th century Europe. These new governments are commonly a different type of autocracy or a weaker variant of the same type. Autocracies that take power during revolutions tend to be exceptionally durable and long-lasting. They tend to face contestation such as coups and large-scale protests at a smaller rate compared to nonrevolutionary autocracies, and have more tools to thwart them when such threats emerge. Revolutionary autocracies have cohesive elite structures that minimize the chances of defections and tend to stay loyal during times of turmoil. They have strong coercive institutions, including loyal militaries that protect the ruling regime's status. Revolutionary autocracies also tend to lack independent centers of power that allow for opposition.