Clubs of autocrats
- While scholars have argued that membership in Regional Organizations (ROs) can increase the likelihood of democratization, we see many autocratic regimes surviving in power albeit being members of several ROs. This article argues that this is the case because these regimes are often members in "Clubs of Autocrats" that supply material and ideational resources to strengthen domestic survival politics and shield members from external interference during moments of political turmoil. The argument is supported by survival analysis testing the effect of membership in autocratic ROs on regime survival between 1946 to 2010. It finds that membership in ROs composed of more autocratic member states does in fact raise the likelihood of regime survival by protecting incumbents against democratic challenges such as civil unrest or political dissent. However, autocratic RO membership does not help to prevent regime breakdown due to autocratic challenges like military coups, potentially because these types of threats are less likely to diffuse toWhile scholars have argued that membership in Regional Organizations (ROs) can increase the likelihood of democratization, we see many autocratic regimes surviving in power albeit being members of several ROs. This article argues that this is the case because these regimes are often members in "Clubs of Autocrats" that supply material and ideational resources to strengthen domestic survival politics and shield members from external interference during moments of political turmoil. The argument is supported by survival analysis testing the effect of membership in autocratic ROs on regime survival between 1946 to 2010. It finds that membership in ROs composed of more autocratic member states does in fact raise the likelihood of regime survival by protecting incumbents against democratic challenges such as civil unrest or political dissent. However, autocratic RO membership does not help to prevent regime breakdown due to autocratic challenges like military coups, potentially because these types of threats are less likely to diffuse to other member states. The article thereby adds to our understanding of the limits of democratization and potential reverse effects of international cooperation, and contributes to the literature addressing interdependences of international and domestic politics in autocratic regimes.…
Author details: | Maria Josepha DebreORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11558-021-09428-y |
ISSN: | 1559-7431 |
ISSN: | 1559-744X |
Title of parent work (English): | The review of international organizations |
Subtitle (English): | regional organizations and authoritarian survival |
Publisher: | Springer |
Place of publishing: | Boston |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2021/06/10 |
Publication year: | 2021 |
Release date: | 2024/04/30 |
Tag: | authoritarian resilience; democratization; domestic politics; regional organizations; survival analysis |
Volume: | 17 |
Issue: | 3 |
Number of pages: | 27 |
First page: | 485 |
Last Page: | 511 |
Funding institution: | Kolleg-Forschergruppe "The Transformative Power of Europe '' - Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)German Research Foundation (DFG); Fox Fellowship at Yale University |
Organizational units: | Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Sozialwissenschaften |
Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Sozialwissenschaften / Fachgruppe Politik- & Verwaltungswissenschaft | |
DDC classification: | 3 Sozialwissenschaften / 32 Politikwissenschaft / 320 Politikwissenschaft |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Hybrid Open-Access |
License (German): | CC-BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |