UC San Diego

Abstract: Although public mass education systems are a nondemocratic invention, research on authoritarian regimes has historically neglected this phenomenon. Taking stock of a budding literature that places education at the center of investigations about authoritarian politics, this chapter summarizes current knowledge on (1) the goals of mass education under authoritarian regimes, (2) the characteristics of these education systems, and (3) the consequences of this education. Authoritarian regimes can pursue a variety of education goals, including social control goals, but also economic development and military strength. Domestic factors shape which goals an authoritarian ruler will prioritize. Education goals, in turn, help explain key features of education systems, such as the content of the curriculum and the effort placed on monitoring teachers. We know less about the consequences of these mass education efforts. A key open question for future research is whether, when, and why autocrats’ education efforts succeed, fail, or even backfire.