Die Ideokratie als Herrschaftsform - Potentiale eines vergessenen Begriffs in der aktuellen Autokratieforschung

In: Zeitschrift für Politik: ZfP, Band 58, Heft 2, S. 148-169

Abstract

The essay attempts to rehabilitate a term that has not only been largely neglected by modern dictatorship research, but also continues to be widely overlooked in current debates: ideocracy. The main assumption is that the concept of totalitarianism still plays an important role in comparing National Socialism and Stalinism as well as for transformation research. However the term ideocracy seems to be better suited for autocracy typification. After a general historical overview, the terms ideology and ideocracy will be analytically explained. Subsequently, the analytical potential and the advantages of ideocracy vis-a-vis classic totalitarianism theory and other approaches to comparative studies of dictatorship will be examined. Thereafter, using a function analysis, a scientific model of ideocracy will be conceptualized, followed by a concluding view on the limits and durability of ideological dictatorships. Adapted from the source document.