Information Control and Mass Psychology in Contemporary Authoritarian Regimes: A Theoretical and Methodological Analysis

Abstract

In the context of a global crisis of liberal democracy, more than two-thirds of the world’s population now live under various forms of autocratic rule. Modern authoritarianism has undergone a significant transformation: traditional mass terror is increasingly being replaced by sophisticated mechanisms of information control and mass psychology manipulation. The central problem lies in the synergy between classical psychological vulnerabilities and cutting-edge digital technologies, which allows regimes to maintain stability while mimicking democratic institutions. The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of the interaction between information policy and mass consciousness and systematizes the mechanisms of propaganda, the psychological foundations of social conformity, and the impact of digital authoritarianism on both domestic stability and international security. The study demonstrates that contemporary autocracies rely on “authoritarian informationalism”, where online and offline tactics escalate surveillance and manipulation. It is argued that propaganda and repression are complementary mechanisms: fear reduces critical thinking, making populations more susceptible to narratives of the “external enemy” and “national greatness”. A key finding is the “dictator’s dilemma”: by creating information bubbles to isolate society, leaders often become hostages of their own propaganda, which leads to catastrophic strategic miscalculations. Furthermore, contemporary propaganda has shifted from building utopian futures to promoting total cynicism and apathy, convincing citizens that “everyone lies” and no democratic alternative is viable.