In: J. Earl & J. Braithwaite (Ed.), De Gruyter Handbook of Political Control (pp. 75-89)

In this chapter, we provide an entry point into the growing field of research that pertains to authoritarianism in the digital age. We define digital authoritarianism as the practices aimed at (1) manufacturing improved popular support for the incumbent, (2) reducing the threat of existing opposition, and (3) preventing future opposition. Focusing on practices allows us to investigate elements of digital authoritarianism beyond classical authoritarian regimes. Building on our definition, we structure the chapter around the three main goals of digital authoritarianism as defined above. For each goal, we describe the most common methods employed to achieve them and the conditions under which these methods are most successful. Throughout the chapter we also point towards the layers of political repression affected, thereby connecting digital authoritarian practices to this book’s broader discussion of political control. The chapter concludes by situating digital authoritarianism within the wider topic of political control and providing an outlook on future avenues of research.

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