Varieties of Autocratization
Varieties of Autocracy and Autocratization (V-Aut) is a research project that aims to contribute to a better understanding of (1) why and how political regimes move towards autocracy as well as (2) the institutions and stability of historical and contemporary autocracies.
Background
The Varieties of Autocratization project takes a systematic and comprehensive approach to understand and explain the features of the contemporary wave of autocratization. In particular, we investigate how and why incumbents manage to bypass or weaken democratic institutional constraints such as an impartial administration, vertical and horizontal accountability, as well as free and open media. This applies both to an autocratizer’s legal rise to power and their autocratizing behavior once in office.
Our key research questions are the following:
- Can we identify potential autocratizers before they are elected?
- How do incumbents undermine democratic constraints and render regimes more autocratic?
- Why do they succeed in some cases and not in others?
Varieties of Autocratization
The Varieties of Autocratization project takes a systematic and comprehensive approach to understand and explain the features of the contemporary wave of autocratization. In particular, we investigate how and why incumbents manage to bypass or weaken democratic institutional constraints such as an impartial administration, vertical and horizontal accountability, as well as free and open media. This applies both to an autocratizer’s legal rise to power and their autocratizing behavior once in office.
Our key research questions are the following:
- Can we identify potential autocratizers before they are elected?
- How do incumbents undermine democratic constraints and render regimes more autocratic?
- Why do they succeed in some cases and not in others?
Varieties of Autocracy
In collaboration with a range of international experts on autocracy, we have developed a range of research proposals to further our understanding of dictatorships. More information to be added soon.
Funders
Research on the topic is funded by Vetenskapsrådet (“Rule by Recession: The Challenge of Contemporary Autocratization”) and the Wallenberg Academy (“Endangered Democracies: Sequences of Autocratization”).