International Politics of Authoritarian Rule (Oxford Studies in Democratization)

Autocrats must overcome a range of challenges as they seek to gain and maintain political power, including the threat that comes from both rival elites and discontented publics. The International Politics of Authoritarian Rule examines the ways in which international forces can encourage and assist autocratic actors in overcoming these challenges. Often, autocratic incumbents are strengthened in power by events on the international stage and by the active support of international allies. The book offers a typology of different international forms of influence on authoritarianism, and examines the ways in which external forces shape autocratic rule at the domestic level. The typology distinguishes between three broad forms of international influence: passive influences, unintended consequences, and active forms of external autocratic sponsorship. The book focuses in particular on the latter category, and examines intentional autocratic sponsorship in the post-Cold War period. A central contribution of the book is to address the question of how international autocratic sponsorship can bolster authoritarian rule. It highlights the ways in which international sponsorship can contribute to authoritarian practices is three significant ways: by increasing the likelihood that authoritarian regimes will pursue 'authoritarian practices' (such as coups, repression or election fraud), by contributing to the implementation of those practices, and finally by shielding autocratic actors from international punishment after such practices are pursued. External sponsorship can thus lower the costs of authoritarian behaviour, and protect and shield authoritarian regimes from the negative consequences of their actions. Oxford Studies in Democratization is a series for scholars and students of comparative politics and related disciplines. Volumes concentrate on the comparative study of the democratization process that accompanied the decline and termination of the cold war. The geographical focus of the series is primarily Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Europe, and relevant experiences in Africa and Asia. The series editor is Laurence Whitehead, Senior Research Fellow, Nuffield College, University of Oxford. Cover The International Politics of Authoritarian Rule Copyright Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of Figure List of Tables 1: Introduction THE RESILIENCE OF AUTHORITARIAN RULE THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR AUTHORITARIANISM THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL SPONSORSHIP SCOPE AND METHODS OUTLINE OF THE BOOK 2: A Typology of International Forces THE INTERNATIONAL TURN IN AUTHORITARIAN STUDIES CAN THE CONCEPTS TRAVEL? A TYPOLOGY OF INTERNATIONAL FORCES TAKING STOCK OF THE FIELD Passive Influences Active Influences: Unintended Consequences Active Influences: Autocratic Sponsorship Democracy Resistance Autocracy Promotion CONCLUSION 3: International Sponsorship and Authoritarian Practices AUTHORITARIAN PRACTICES THE SOURCES OF AUTOCRATIC SPONSORSHIP THE TOOLS OF AUTOCRATIC SPONSORSHIP Material Sponsorship: Financial Material Sponsorship: Security International Diplomacy Strategic Advice THE EFFECTS OF AUTOCRATIC SPONSORSHIP Increasing the Likelihood of Authoritarian Practices Contributing to the Implementation of Authoritarian Practices Shielding Autocrats from International Enforcement in the Wake of Authoritarian Practices CONCLUSION 4: The International Politics of Electoral Manipulation THE POLITICS OF ELECTORAL MANIPULATION THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF ELECTORAL MANIPULATION Lenient International Observers Partial and Contested Enforcement High-Level Diplomatic Support THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF ELECTORAL MANIPULATION IN ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe’s International Environment Lenient Observers Partial and Contested Enforcement High-Level Diplomatic Support CONCLUSION 5: Underwriting Repression: The International Politics of Coercive Crackdowns REPRESSION AND AUTHORITARIANISM THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF COERCIVE CRACKDOWNS SUPPLEMENTING COERCIVE CAPACITY COERCIVE CRACKDOWNS AND THE ARAB SPRING GCC Intervention in Bahrain The International Dimensions of Bahrain’s Coercive Capacity International Sponsorship and Violent Repression in Assad’s Syria CONCLUSION 6: International Politics and Post-Coup Authoritarianism COUPS AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICS POST-COUP AUTHORITARIAN CONSOLIDATION THE DIVERSITY OF POST-COUP TRAJECTORIES US POLICY AND EGYPT’S 2013 COUP ELECTION-FREE POLITICS IN POST-COUP FIJI Sources of Authoritarian Consolidation in Fiji CONCLUSION Conclusion CLARIFYING THE BOUNDARIES: VARIATION IN TYPES OF INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE International Dimensions of Autocracy versus Democracy Typology of International Dimensions of Autocracy UNEVEN EXPOSURE: VARIATION IN THE SUPPLY SIDE Democratic and Autocratic Sponsors: Similar, but Not the Same Sponsorship and the Linkage Spectrum VARIATION IN EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL AUTOCRATIC SPONSORSHIP Authoritarian Practices The Life-Cycle of Authoritarian Practices Mechanisms of International Influence CONTRIBUTION TO THE LITERATURE FURTHER RESEARCH Bibliography Index Autocrats must overcome a range of challenges as they seek to gain and maintain political power, including the threat that comes from both rival elites and discontented publics. The International Politics of Authoritarian Rule examines the ways in which international forces can encourage and assist autocratic actors in overcoming these challenges. Often, autocratic incumbents are strengthened in power by events on the international stage and by the active support of international allies. The book offers a typology of different international forms of influence on authoritarianism, and examines the ways in which external forces shape autocratic rule at the domestic level. The typology distinguishes between three broad forms of international influence: passive influences, unintended consequences, and active forms of external autocratic sponsorship. The book focuses in particular on the latter category, and examines intentional autocratic sponsorship in the post-Cold War period. A central contribution of the book is to address the question of how international autocratic sponsorship can bolster authoritarian rule. It highlights the ways in which international sponsorship can contribute to authoritarian practices is three significant ways: by increasing the likelihood that authoritarian regimes will pursue 'authoritarian practices' (such as coups, repression or election fraud), by contributing to the implementation of those practices, and finally by shielding autocratic actors from international punishment after such practices are pursued. External sponsorship can thus lower the costs of authoritarian behaviour, and protect and shield authoritarian regimes from the negative consequences of their actions.-- Provided by Publisher This Volume Offers A Systematic Account Of The International Dimensions Of Authoritarianism, Identifying Both The Range Of Possible International Influences And The Causal Mechanisms Through Which They Promote And Protect Authoritarianism. Introduction -- A Typology Of International Forces -- International Sponsorship And Authoritarian Practices -- The International Politics Of Electoral Manipulation -- Underwriting Repression : The International Politics Of Coercive Crackdowns -- International Politics And Post-coup Authoritarianism -- Conclusion. Oisín Tansey. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 203-234) And Index.