How does the eroticization of power contribute to authoritarian resilience or fragility?
Authoritarians typically try to control and repress public displays of affection, especially between people from different genders.
Female-female displays are criminalized or banned in many countries. Such rules may seem restrictive but they can have unintended consequences. This article explores how sex and power combine to create resilient or fragile authoritarian regimes.
Power is often associated with domination, which includes physical force or coercion. In some cases, however, power also involves intimidation through psychological manipulation. Intimate relationships provide an opportunity for such tactics, where one person dominates another physically, emotionally, or both. The eroticization of power means that these acts are seen as sexy or exciting. Thus, there are political benefits to using sexuality to gain influence.
Resilience
Some scholars argue that authoritarianism survives by manipulating desires and emotions. By controlling access to sexual pleasure, rulers can exploit their citizens' needs and maintain social order. Sexual desire drives people to pursue pleasure, sometimes at great costs. This creates vulnerabilities that authoritarians can use for their own benefit. One way to resist this is to replace sex with other forms of connection.
This takes time and energy away from other activities, like resistance movements.
Consider a military dictatorship that uses rape as a weapon against women during wartime. Women may feel shame, fear, anger, or trauma after the act. These feelings distract them from political engagement and lead to self-blame instead of action. This allows the regime to continue abusing its power without consequence, even though it violated basic human rights.
Fragility
The eroticization of power can lead to fragility in authoritarian regimes.
When leaders overemphasize sexual control and repress nonconforming behavior, they risk losing support. Citizens might rebel if they see others receiving privileged treatment due to status or wealth. They could also seek alternatives outside official channels, such as secret relationships or informal networks.
Sex scandals have brought down many powerful men, including politicians and CEOs. When these scandals involve officials, however, they often go unpunished. In China, for example, President Xi Jinping has banned extramarital affairs but still has mistresses himself. Citizens who complain about his hypocrisy face censorship or imprisonment.
The relationship between power and sexuality is complex. While some rulers exploit intimacy to maintain control, others may be undermined by their own desires. The key factor seems to be the degree of opposition allowed within the community. If citizens can express themselves safely, then they will likely reject authoritarianism. Otherwise, they must choose between giving up pleasure or taking risks against an oppressive system.
How does the eroticization of power contribute to authoritarian resilience or fragility?
Authoritarians often seek to dominate others through their position of power. This is particularly evident in political leaders who use their authority to oppress those they consider inferior. The eroticization of power involves using sexualized imagery or language to exert control over others, often with the intention of instilling fear or submission. It can be seen in various contexts, from politics to relationships.