What is an anocracy?

About this episode

Let’s think back to January 6th 2021, when the U.S. Capitol was invaded by radical pro-Trump activists. Of course since then, Donald Trump has left the White House. But, with hindsight, how should we remember his mandate and this event in particular?  Political scientist Baraba F. Walter recently looked into the US's current instability and went as far as describing it as an anocracy. That’s a term for a government that is neither fully democratic, nor fully autocratic. It was first coined in 1946 by Austrian philosopher Martin Buber and then translated into English in the 1950s. Barbara Walter is a CIA advisor and professor at the University of San Diego in California. Throughout her career, she has studied conflicts in many countries across the world, such as Lebanon, Syria, Sri Lanka, and Nicaragua, to name just a few.  Where does the word anocracy come from? Why would she believe that? And how can an anocracy plunge into civil war? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to more episodes, click here: ⁠Are my smart devices spying on me?⁠ ⁠What is synthetic fuel?⁠ ⁠What is a frozen conflict?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast. Written and produced by Joseph Chance. First Broadcast: 19/1/2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices