Messrs Bremmer and Halper are actually less bullish about the new authoritarianism than the titles of their books might suggest.

ECONOMIST: The state and the economy

Under Putin, the brief Russian democratic experience vanished, and a new kind of authoritarianism emerged.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Russia extends a helping hand to Chavez

New kinds of authoritarianism may be just as likely as the flowering of democracy.

BBC: Syria crisis could change face of the Middle East

Protesters accuse President Morsi, a member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, of imposing a new form of authoritarianism and betraying the values of their uprising two years ago.

BBC: Egypt protesters clash with police at presidential palace

Egypt's secular opposition accuses President Morsi - a member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood - of imposing a new form of authoritarianism and betraying the values of the 2011 uprising.

BBC: New Egypt clashes on Mubarak fall's anniversary

The opposition claims that Brazil's new-found oil wealth will foster the elected authoritarianism that grew up in Mexico under the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's presidential election