Political scientist Christopher Davidson has characterized Mohamed's tenure as de facto UAE leader as entailing a "a marked and rapid intensification of autocratic-authoritarianism."[1] Democracy indicators show "recent and substantial efforts to tighten up almost all remaining political and civic freedoms."[7] According to Andreas Krieg, Mohamed's political ideology holds that strongman authoritarianism is the optimal governance system for the UAE.[2] Krieg writes,[6]