Executive Summary Breaking Down Democracy: Goals, Strategies, and Methods of Modern Authoritarians by Arch Puddington The 21st century has been marked by aresurgence of authoritarian rule that has proved resilient despite economic fragility and occasional popular resistance. Modern authoritarianism has succeeded, where previous totalitarian systems failed, due to refined and nuanced strategies of repression, the exploitation of open societies, and the spread of illiberal policies in democratic countries themselves. The leaders of today’s authoritarian systems devote full- time attention to the challenge of crippling the opposition without annihilating it, and flouting the rule of law while maintaining a plausible veneer of order, legitimacy, and prosperity. Central to the modern authoritarian strategy is the independent existence (as long as it does not pursue capture of institutions that undergird political plural- political change), citizens can travel around the coun- ism. The goal is to dominate not only the executive try or abroad with only occasional interference, and and legislative branches, but also the media, the private enterprise can flourish (albeit with rampant judiciary, civil society, the commanding heights of the corruption and cronyism). economy, and the security forces. With these institu- tions under the effective if not absolute control of an This study explains how modern authoritarianism de- incumbent leader, changes in government through fair fends and propagates itself, as regimes from different and honest elections become all but impossible. regions and with diverse socioeconomic foundations copy and borrow techniques of political control. Unlike Soviet-style communism, modern authoritari- Among its major findings: anism is not animated by an overarching ideology or the messianic notion of an ideal future society. Nor e Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, has do today's autocrats seek totalitarian control over