The Inverted Savior Theory: A Psycho-Political Interpretation of the Continuation of Support for Authoritarian Regimes in the Eritrean Case

This preprint presents The Inverted Savior Theory, a new psycho-political framework that explains the persistence of public support for authoritarian regimes, using the Eritrean case as a model. The theory argues that in closed and fear-based societies, the image of the oppressor transforms into that of a national savior through psychological and symbolic mechanisms. Drawing on classical works by Max Weber, Erich Fromm, and Robert C. Tucker, this study explores how the regime of Isaias Afwerki maintains legitimacy through national discourse, collective fear, and the manipulation of symbolic authority.