History has seen more authoritarian regimes than any other form of government. Authoritarianism is a form of nondemocratic government defined by the centralization of state power in a single person or small group of people. Unlike democracies, these individuals in power do not depend on the people for power. Therefore, under authoritarian rule, state leaders have little accountability to the public and there is little individual freedom. Furthermore, authoritarian regimes are not bound by a constitution that could limit their power. Such democratic freedoms as the right of assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are highly controlled or non-existent. State policies are designed to maintain the status quo of power in favor of the dominant group, and perceived threats are marginalized or, in some cases, extinguished. Authoritarianism is more likely to exist in countries that have not yet experienced a high degree of modernization. This is because, without modernization, many of the core institutions deemed necessary for democracy are not yet fully developed. These institutions include intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and the emergence of an economic middle class. Indeed, it is highly correlated that the middle class is a vital requirement for the existence of democracy. However, modernization in itself does not always mean that the end result will be a democracy. For example, if modernization occurs in some urban areas but lags in rural areas, it could be destabilizing for democratic institutions. Poverty is also strongly linked to authoritarianism, although it alone is not a correlation. Authoritarian regimes would not survive if there were not at least a segment of the population supp...... middle of paper ......in control of the country's wealth and resources. Authoritarian regimes use coercion and limit individual freedom to maintain their power. They are also capable of preventing the emergence of a middle class by hindering economic development. In these regimes, when resources run out they are no longer able to corrupt the segments of the population, the elites, necessary to maintain that power. Rich in resources, countries are able to sustain authoritarian regimes longer than those without them. However, as evidenced by the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, even the most powerful of authoritarian regimes is vulnerable when resources begin to dry up. Works Cited O'Neil, Patrick H. “Essentials of Comparative Politics.” Third edition. 2010 page 142 pages. 146P. 146P. 146P. 146P. 147P. 143P. 142P. 147P. 147P. 144P. 152P. 153