“The prevailing force that generates and sustains illiberal power is not tied to specific social and economic conditions. In illiberal democracies, the political shapes society by creating and reinforcing specific mindsets and dependencies. The political and resulting social power of the plebiscitarian leader originates from a system of personal dependencies and from the belief that the leader is indispensable in the permanent chaos. The leader’s political power enables him to set the rules of the game. Illiberal democracies are neopatrimonial regimes, but here personal rule exists hand in hand with a bureaucratic, formal rationalistic system. The ruler pretends not to be above the law, and his state and its officials act as authorized by law.

The plebiscitarian leader operates a patronage system and determines who gets what from the state, but the beneficiary may hold state resources as a prebenda only. With increased state control over social resources individuals become dependent of the state and the leader and autonomous organizations lose their autonomy. This is the material source of power of the leader that enables him to rule in a plebiscitarian democracy.”