Skip to main content

Autocratic Succession

  • Chapter

Abstract

In autocracies a “succession” takes place, when one autocrat replaces another. In practice, this happens in one of three ways: An autocrat may live out his term of office, or he may retire peacefully (e.g., voluntarily or when his term expires), or he may be forced out. Obviously some of these options are not exclusively at the discretion of the autocrat alone, and his future will depend on his foresight and his ability to protect himself, and among these are his ability to nominate his own successor or change the succession rules. Seen from the perspective of a potential contender for the role as autocrat, the choices are, in a way, more simple: He can do nothing and hope to become the autocrat himself some day or he can try to improve his own career prospects by forcing the autocrat out of office. Either way, the situation is one of strategic interaction and with institutions playing an important role.

Keywords

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   429.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Anderson, G. and Boettke, P.J. (1993). “Perestroika and public choice: the economics of autocratic succession in a rent-seeking society.” Public Choice, 75(2): 101–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Congleton, R.D. (2001). “On the durability of king and council: the continuum between dictatorship and democracy.” Constitutional Political Economy, 12(3): 193–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Long, J.B. and Shleifer, A. (1993). “Princes and Merchants: European city growth before the industrial revolution.” Journal of Law and Economics, 36(2): 671–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurrild-Klitgaard, P. (2000). “The constitutional economics of autocratic succession.” Public Choice, 103(1–2): 63–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tullock, G. (1974). The Social Dilemma: The Economics of War and Revolution. Blacksburg: Center for Study of Public Choice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tullock, G. (1987a). Autocracy. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tullock, G. (1987b). “Autocracy,” in G. Radnitzky and P. Bernholz (eds.) Economic Imperialism: The Economic Approach Applied Outside the Field of Economics. New York: Paragon, pp. 365–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tullock, G. (2001). “Monarchies, hereditary and non-hereditary,” in W.F. Shugart and L. Razzolini (eds.) The Elgar Companion to Public Choice. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 140–156.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kurrild-Klitgaard, P. (2004). Autocratic Succession. In: Rowley, C.K., Schneider, F. (eds) The Encyclopedia of Public Choice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-47828-4_39

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-47828-4_39

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-8607-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47828-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics