Hybrid regimes

combined democratic rules with authoritarian governance.

Competitive authoritarianism - one particular type of “hybrid”
regime.
In competitive authoritarian regimes, formal democratic institutions
are widely viewed as the principal means of obtaining and exercising
political authority. Incumbents violate those rules so often and to
such an extent, however, that the regime fails to meet conventional
minimum standards for democracy.
In competitive authoritarian regimes, basic civil liberties are formally
guaranteed and are to some extent protected in practice. Independent media
exist and civic and opposition groups are able to operate above ground,
opening offices, holding public meetings and demonstrations, and criticizing
the government in the media. Yet civil liberties are frequently violated.
Opposition politicians, independent judges, journalists, human rights
activities, and other government critics are subject to harassment, arrest, and
in some cases, violent attacks.
Access to resources is uneven where incumbents use the state to create or
maintain resource disparities that hinder the opposition’s ability to compete.
Incumbents may make direct partisan use of state recourses, while denying
other parties access to those resources.
Access to Media – where opposition party do not enjoy access to media that
reaches the bulk of the population, there is no possibility of fair competition. If
radio and television are in the hands of the state, and state – run channels are
biased in favor of the governing party, opposition forces are effectively denied
access to the media.