Introduction: Mobilization as the Key to Mass Dictatorships

Mobilization is one of the most crucial concepts in analyzing mass dictatorships. In his definition of “mass dictatorship,” Jie-Hyun Lim argues that “modern dictatorship presupposes the support of the masses. The term ‘mass dictatorship’ implies the attempted mobilization of the masses by dictatorships, and that these frequently secured voluntary mass participation and support” (Lim 2011, p. 3). Mobilization is thus the dynamic and ever-changing relationship between the agents of a dictatorial state seeking to propel its people to action on the state’s behalf, and the people who might potentially be voluntarily self-propelled into action. This relationship can shift dramatically over time as the circumstances change within a given mass dictatorship. Tracing the transformations in this relationship provides an effective way to study mass dictatorships. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.