What is "authoritarian rule" and how can we best study it? Using the case of the twentieth-century Dominican southwest, this book investigates new ways of analyzing political authoritarianism. The Dominican Republic was ruled for several decades in the twentieth century by the dictator Rafael Trujillo and later by another authoritarian leader, Joaquin Balaguer. In this study, Krohn-Hansen examines "from below" the state formation headed by Trujillo and Balaguer. The book offers a historical ethnography from one part of the country. Krohn-Hansen argues that it should be imperative to approach authoritarian histories - like other histories - on the basis of detailed investigations of power relationships, everyday practices, and meanings.

What is 'authoritarian rule' and is it best studied? Using the Dominican Republic, this book investigates new methods of analysis, arguing that it should be imperative to approach authoritarian histories - like other histories - on the basis of detailed investigations of power relationships, everyday practices and meanings.