Towards An Analytical Framework for Significant Authoritarian Reform

Abstract

The overarching research question of this project is what criteria indicate significant authoritarian reform? This study introduces the theoretical model of hard superego society (HSS) to answer this question. This model assumes this type of society includes two criteria: systematic social hate and discrimination and the emergence of discriminatory authoritarian characters (DACs). Drawing upon these criteria, I suggest three models of superego society (1) models of societies in transition to soft superego societies, (2) moderate models of hard superego societies and (3) extreme models of hard superego societies. These theoretical criteria and models were influenced by the authoritarianism theories of the first-generation Frankfurt School thinkers, particularly Erich Fromm. It also depends heavily on Wilhelm Reich's approach, which links authoritarianism to discrimination, hate and violence. Given the academic limitations imposed by COVID-19, a study on hard superego society was done as a theoretical experiment using qualitative methods and desk-based research.

The finding of this dissertation is that significant authoritarian reform would be indicated in changes in the discrimination and hate practiced by authoritarian welfare policy, education, families and authoritarian/discrimination religious organisations. Therefore, identifying nuances of different models of hard superego societies is profoundly important to better understand authoritarian reform. This research project reintroducing the FS's first generation's analytical framework of authoritarianism and Reich and Fromm's relationship between authoritarian character, discrimination, hate and violence