Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Author: Marlene Mauk

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2020-04-29

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0198854854

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Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes takes a political-culture perspective on the struggle between democracy and autocracy by examining how these regimes fare in the eyes of their citizens. Taking a globally comparative approach, it studies both the levels as well as the individual- and system-level sources of political support in democracies and autocracies worldwide. The book develops an explanatory model of regime support which includes both individual- and system level determinants and specifies not only the general causal mechanisms and pathways through which these determinants affect regime support but also spells out how these effects might vary between the two types of regimes. It empirically tests its propositions using multi-level structural equation modeling and a comprehensive dataset that combines recent public-opinion data from six cross-national survey projects with aggregate data from various sources for more than 100 democracies and autocracies. It finds that both the levels and individual-level sources of regime support are the same in democracies and autocracies, but that the way in which system-level context factors affect regime support differs between the two types of regimes. The results enhance our understanding of what determines citizen support for fundamentally different regimes, help assessing the present and future stability of democracies and autocracies, and provide clear policy implications to those interested in strengthening support for democracy and/or fostering democratic change in autocracies. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The series is edited by Susan Scarrow, Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Houston, and Jonathan Slapin, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich


Book Synopsis Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes by : Marlene Mauk

Download or read book Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes written by Marlene Mauk and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2020-04-29 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes takes a political-culture perspective on the struggle between democracy and autocracy by examining how these regimes fare in the eyes of their citizens. Taking a globally comparative approach, it studies both the levels as well as the individual- and system-level sources of political support in democracies and autocracies worldwide. The book develops an explanatory model of regime support which includes both individual- and system level determinants and specifies not only the general causal mechanisms and pathways through which these determinants affect regime support but also spells out how these effects might vary between the two types of regimes. It empirically tests its propositions using multi-level structural equation modeling and a comprehensive dataset that combines recent public-opinion data from six cross-national survey projects with aggregate data from various sources for more than 100 democracies and autocracies. It finds that both the levels and individual-level sources of regime support are the same in democracies and autocracies, but that the way in which system-level context factors affect regime support differs between the two types of regimes. The results enhance our understanding of what determines citizen support for fundamentally different regimes, help assessing the present and future stability of democracies and autocracies, and provide clear policy implications to those interested in strengthening support for democracy and/or fostering democratic change in autocracies. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The series is edited by Susan Scarrow, Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Houston, and Jonathan Slapin, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich

Political Representation in Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Political Representation in Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Author: Hans Lueders

Publisher:

Published: 2021

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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This dissertation studies political representation in democratic and autocratic regimes. It asks two questions: first, how can citizens influence politics in some of the least democratic regimes? Second, how do citizens form their expectations of political representation following authoritarian breakdown? The dissertation answers these questions in the context of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and consists of three papers. The first paper challenges a key assumption in models of electoral politics, according to which electoral contestation is a precondition for political decision-makers to respond to the demands of their constituents. Using a unique dataset of petitions to the central government of the former GDR, I show that despite uncontested elections, the GDR engaged in electoral cycles of responsiveness: petitions were answered more quickly and were more likely to be successful before elections. The second paper explores the relationship between emigration and authoritarian stability. Extant work on this topic usually focuses on emigration from open regimes--that is, autocracies that impose few restrictions on citizens' ability to leave--and focus on remittances and norm diffusion. By contrast, I study emigration from a closed autocracy and emphasize alternative mechanisms. Exploiting an involuntary emigration reform in the former GDR in 1983, I argue that emigration can have countervailing effects on the stability of closed autocracies. On the one hand, the exit visa system in such a setting generates information about troublemakers, which improves autocratic stability. But on the other hand, letting some people leave an otherwise closed regime can create more demand for emigration among left-behind citizens, which undermines stability. The third paper asks where public support for democracy comes from after autocratic breakdown. The existing literature usually focuses on the role of autocratic legacies or contemporary economic or political performance. I emphasize instead the importance of the early democratic years: the mode by which countries transition from autocracy to democracy can lastingly shape citizens' expectations of and beliefs about democratic governance. Evidence for this argument comes from an original survey experiment, household panel data, and observational data on historical unemployment and present-day voting for the far-right populist \textit{AfD}. Taken together, the dissertation identifies two new research agendas. I call for a departure from the traditional focus on co-optation and repression in scholarship on authoritarian regimes and for more research on the ways in which ordinary citizens can gain representation and influence politics in non-democratic regimes. Moreover, while research on the legacies of autocratic rule abounds, I emphasize the important consequences that autocratic breakdown can have for political attitudes, behavior, and long-term democratic stability.


Book Synopsis Political Representation in Democratic and Autocratic Regimes by : Hans Lueders

Download or read book Political Representation in Democratic and Autocratic Regimes written by Hans Lueders and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation studies political representation in democratic and autocratic regimes. It asks two questions: first, how can citizens influence politics in some of the least democratic regimes? Second, how do citizens form their expectations of political representation following authoritarian breakdown? The dissertation answers these questions in the context of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) and consists of three papers. The first paper challenges a key assumption in models of electoral politics, according to which electoral contestation is a precondition for political decision-makers to respond to the demands of their constituents. Using a unique dataset of petitions to the central government of the former GDR, I show that despite uncontested elections, the GDR engaged in electoral cycles of responsiveness: petitions were answered more quickly and were more likely to be successful before elections. The second paper explores the relationship between emigration and authoritarian stability. Extant work on this topic usually focuses on emigration from open regimes--that is, autocracies that impose few restrictions on citizens' ability to leave--and focus on remittances and norm diffusion. By contrast, I study emigration from a closed autocracy and emphasize alternative mechanisms. Exploiting an involuntary emigration reform in the former GDR in 1983, I argue that emigration can have countervailing effects on the stability of closed autocracies. On the one hand, the exit visa system in such a setting generates information about troublemakers, which improves autocratic stability. But on the other hand, letting some people leave an otherwise closed regime can create more demand for emigration among left-behind citizens, which undermines stability. The third paper asks where public support for democracy comes from after autocratic breakdown. The existing literature usually focuses on the role of autocratic legacies or contemporary economic or political performance. I emphasize instead the importance of the early democratic years: the mode by which countries transition from autocracy to democracy can lastingly shape citizens' expectations of and beliefs about democratic governance. Evidence for this argument comes from an original survey experiment, household panel data, and observational data on historical unemployment and present-day voting for the far-right populist \textit{AfD}. Taken together, the dissertation identifies two new research agendas. I call for a departure from the traditional focus on co-optation and repression in scholarship on authoritarian regimes and for more research on the ways in which ordinary citizens can gain representation and influence politics in non-democratic regimes. Moreover, while research on the legacies of autocratic rule abounds, I emphasize the important consequences that autocratic breakdown can have for political attitudes, behavior, and long-term democratic stability.

Shock to the System

Shock to the System

Author: Michael K. Miller

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2021-07-20

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 0691217599

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How violent events and autocratic parties trigger democratic change How do democracies emerge? Shock to the System presents a novel theory of democratization that focuses on how events like coups, wars, and elections disrupt autocratic regimes and trigger democratic change. Employing the broadest qualitative and quantitative analyses of democratization to date, Michael Miller demonstrates that more than nine in ten transitions since 1800 occur in one of two ways: countries democratize following a major violent shock or an established ruling party democratizes through elections and regains power within democracy. This framework fundamentally reorients theories on democratization by showing that violent upheavals and the preservation of autocrats in power—events typically viewed as antithetical to democracy—are in fact central to its foundation. Through in-depth examinations of 139 democratic transitions, Miller shows how democratization frequently follows both domestic shocks (coups, civil wars, and assassinations) and international shocks (defeat in war and withdrawal of an autocratic hegemon) due to autocratic insecurity and openings for opposition actors. He also shows how transitions guided by ruling parties spring from their electoral confidence in democracy. Both contexts limit the power autocrats sacrifice by accepting democratization, smoothing along the transition. Miller provides new insights into democratization’s predictors, the limited gains from events like the Arab Spring, the best routes to democratization for long-term stability, and the future of global democracy. Disputing commonly held ideas about violent events and their effects on democracy, Shock to the System offers new perspectives on how regimes are transformed.


Book Synopsis Shock to the System by : Michael K. Miller

Download or read book Shock to the System written by Michael K. Miller and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-07-20 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How violent events and autocratic parties trigger democratic change How do democracies emerge? Shock to the System presents a novel theory of democratization that focuses on how events like coups, wars, and elections disrupt autocratic regimes and trigger democratic change. Employing the broadest qualitative and quantitative analyses of democratization to date, Michael Miller demonstrates that more than nine in ten transitions since 1800 occur in one of two ways: countries democratize following a major violent shock or an established ruling party democratizes through elections and regains power within democracy. This framework fundamentally reorients theories on democratization by showing that violent upheavals and the preservation of autocrats in power—events typically viewed as antithetical to democracy—are in fact central to its foundation. Through in-depth examinations of 139 democratic transitions, Miller shows how democratization frequently follows both domestic shocks (coups, civil wars, and assassinations) and international shocks (defeat in war and withdrawal of an autocratic hegemon) due to autocratic insecurity and openings for opposition actors. He also shows how transitions guided by ruling parties spring from their electoral confidence in democracy. Both contexts limit the power autocrats sacrifice by accepting democratization, smoothing along the transition. Miller provides new insights into democratization’s predictors, the limited gains from events like the Arab Spring, the best routes to democratization for long-term stability, and the future of global democracy. Disputing commonly held ideas about violent events and their effects on democracy, Shock to the System offers new perspectives on how regimes are transformed.

The Autocratic Middle Class

The Autocratic Middle Class

Author: Bryn Rosenfeld

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2020-12

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 0691192197

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"The conventional wisdom is that a growing middle class will give rise to democracy. Yet the middle classes of the developing world have grown at a remarkable pace over the past two decades, and much of this growth has taken place in countries that remain nondemocratic. Rosenfeld explains this phenomenon by showing how modern autocracies secure support from key middle-class constituencies. Drawing on original surveys, interviews, archival documents, and secondary sources collected from nine months in the field, she compares the experiences of recent post-communist countries, including Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, to show that under autocracy, state efforts weaken support for democracy, especially among the middle class. When autocratic states engage extensively in their economies - by offering state employment, offering perks to those to those who are loyal, and threatening dismissal to those who are disloyal - the middle classes become dependent on the state for economic opportunities and career advancement, and, ultimately, do not support a shift toward democratization. Her argument explains why popular support for Ukraine's Orange Revolution unraveled or why Russians did not protest evidence of massive electoral fraud. The author's research questions the assumption that a rising share of educated, white-collar workers always makes the conditions for democracy more favorable, and why dependence on the state has such pernicious consequences for democratization"--


Book Synopsis The Autocratic Middle Class by : Bryn Rosenfeld

Download or read book The Autocratic Middle Class written by Bryn Rosenfeld and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-12 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The conventional wisdom is that a growing middle class will give rise to democracy. Yet the middle classes of the developing world have grown at a remarkable pace over the past two decades, and much of this growth has taken place in countries that remain nondemocratic. Rosenfeld explains this phenomenon by showing how modern autocracies secure support from key middle-class constituencies. Drawing on original surveys, interviews, archival documents, and secondary sources collected from nine months in the field, she compares the experiences of recent post-communist countries, including Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, to show that under autocracy, state efforts weaken support for democracy, especially among the middle class. When autocratic states engage extensively in their economies - by offering state employment, offering perks to those to those who are loyal, and threatening dismissal to those who are disloyal - the middle classes become dependent on the state for economic opportunities and career advancement, and, ultimately, do not support a shift toward democratization. Her argument explains why popular support for Ukraine's Orange Revolution unraveled or why Russians did not protest evidence of massive electoral fraud. The author's research questions the assumption that a rising share of educated, white-collar workers always makes the conditions for democracy more favorable, and why dependence on the state has such pernicious consequences for democratization"--

Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes

Author: Marlene Mauk

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2020-04-30

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0192597132

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Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes takes a political-culture perspective on the struggle between democracy and autocracy by examining how these regimes fare in the eyes of their citizens. Taking a globally comparative approach, it studies both the levels as well as the individual- and system-level sources of political support in democracies and autocracies worldwide. The book develops an explanatory model of regime support which includes both individual- and system level determinants and specifies not only the general causal mechanisms and pathways through which these determinants affect regime support but also spells out how these effects might vary between the two types of regimes. It empirically tests its propositions using multi-level structural equation modeling and a comprehensive dataset that combines recent public-opinion data from six cross-national survey projects with aggregate data from various sources for more than 100 democracies and autocracies. It finds that both the levels and individual-level sources of regime support are the same in democracies and autocracies, but that the way in which system-level context factors affect regime support differs between the two types of regimes. The results enhance our understanding of what determines citizen support for fundamentally different regimes, help assessing the present and future stability of democracies and autocracies, and provide clear policy implications to those interested in strengthening support for democracy and/or fostering democratic change in autocracies. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The series is edited by Susan Scarrow, Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Houston, and Jonathan Slapin, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich


Book Synopsis Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes by : Marlene Mauk

Download or read book Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes written by Marlene Mauk and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2020-04-30 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Citizen Support for Democratic and Autocratic Regimes takes a political-culture perspective on the struggle between democracy and autocracy by examining how these regimes fare in the eyes of their citizens. Taking a globally comparative approach, it studies both the levels as well as the individual- and system-level sources of political support in democracies and autocracies worldwide. The book develops an explanatory model of regime support which includes both individual- and system level determinants and specifies not only the general causal mechanisms and pathways through which these determinants affect regime support but also spells out how these effects might vary between the two types of regimes. It empirically tests its propositions using multi-level structural equation modeling and a comprehensive dataset that combines recent public-opinion data from six cross-national survey projects with aggregate data from various sources for more than 100 democracies and autocracies. It finds that both the levels and individual-level sources of regime support are the same in democracies and autocracies, but that the way in which system-level context factors affect regime support differs between the two types of regimes. The results enhance our understanding of what determines citizen support for fundamentally different regimes, help assessing the present and future stability of democracies and autocracies, and provide clear policy implications to those interested in strengthening support for democracy and/or fostering democratic change in autocracies. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterised by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu. The series is edited by Susan Scarrow, Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Houston, and Jonathan Slapin, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich

Competitive Authoritarianism

Competitive Authoritarianism

Author: Steven Levitsky

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2010-08-16

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 1139491482

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Based on a detailed study of 35 cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and post-communist Eurasia, this book explores the fate of competitive authoritarian regimes between 1990 and 2008. It finds that where social, economic, and technocratic ties to the West were extensive, as in Eastern Europe and the Americas, the external cost of abuse led incumbents to cede power rather than crack down, which led to democratization. Where ties to the West were limited, external democratizing pressure was weaker and countries rarely democratized. In these cases, regime outcomes hinged on the character of state and ruling party organizations. Where incumbents possessed developed and cohesive coercive party structures, they could thwart opposition challenges, and competitive authoritarian regimes survived; where incumbents lacked such organizational tools, regimes were unstable but rarely democratized.


Book Synopsis Competitive Authoritarianism by : Steven Levitsky

Download or read book Competitive Authoritarianism written by Steven Levitsky and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2010-08-16 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on a detailed study of 35 cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and post-communist Eurasia, this book explores the fate of competitive authoritarian regimes between 1990 and 2008. It finds that where social, economic, and technocratic ties to the West were extensive, as in Eastern Europe and the Americas, the external cost of abuse led incumbents to cede power rather than crack down, which led to democratization. Where ties to the West were limited, external democratizing pressure was weaker and countries rarely democratized. In these cases, regime outcomes hinged on the character of state and ruling party organizations. Where incumbents possessed developed and cohesive coercive party structures, they could thwart opposition challenges, and competitive authoritarian regimes survived; where incumbents lacked such organizational tools, regimes were unstable but rarely democratized.

Freedom in the World 2018

Freedom in the World 2018

Author: Freedom House

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2019-01-31

Total Pages: 1040

ISBN-13: 1538112035

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Freedom in the World is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. The methodology of this survey is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and these standards are applied to all countries and territories.


Book Synopsis Freedom in the World 2018 by : Freedom House

Download or read book Freedom in the World 2018 written by Freedom House and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2019-01-31 with total page 1040 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Freedom in the World is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. The methodology of this survey is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and these standards are applied to all countries and territories.

Authoritarian Police in Democracy

Authoritarian Police in Democracy

Author: Yanilda María González

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-11-12

Total Pages: 375

ISBN-13: 1108900380

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In countries around the world, from the United States to the Philippines to Chile, police forces are at the center of social unrest and debates about democracy and rule of law. This book examines the persistence of authoritarian policing in Latin America to explain why police violence and malfeasance remain pervasive decades after democratization. It also examines the conditions under which reform can occur. Drawing on rich comparative analysis and evidence from Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, the book opens up the 'black box' of police bureaucracies to show how police forces exert power and cultivate relationships with politicians, as well as how social inequality impedes change. González shows that authoritarian policing persists not in spite of democracy but in part because of democratic processes and public demand. When societal preferences over the distribution of security and coercion are fragmented along existing social cleavages, politicians possess few incentives to enact reform.


Book Synopsis Authoritarian Police in Democracy by : Yanilda María González

Download or read book Authoritarian Police in Democracy written by Yanilda María González and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-11-12 with total page 375 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In countries around the world, from the United States to the Philippines to Chile, police forces are at the center of social unrest and debates about democracy and rule of law. This book examines the persistence of authoritarian policing in Latin America to explain why police violence and malfeasance remain pervasive decades after democratization. It also examines the conditions under which reform can occur. Drawing on rich comparative analysis and evidence from Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, the book opens up the 'black box' of police bureaucracies to show how police forces exert power and cultivate relationships with politicians, as well as how social inequality impedes change. González shows that authoritarian policing persists not in spite of democracy but in part because of democratic processes and public demand. When societal preferences over the distribution of security and coercion are fragmented along existing social cleavages, politicians possess few incentives to enact reform.

Of Empires and Citizens

Of Empires and Citizens

Author: Amaney A. Jamal

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2012-09-09

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 1400845475

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In the post-Cold War era, why has democratization been slow to arrive in the Arab world? This book argues that to understand support for the authoritarian status quo in parts of this region--and the willingness of its citizens to compromise on core democratic principles--one must factor in how a strong U.S. presence and popular anti-Americanism weakens democratic voices. Examining such countries as Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, Amaney Jamal explores how Arab citizens decide whether to back existing regimes, regime transitions, and democratization projects, and how the global position of Arab states shapes people's attitudes toward their governments. While the Cold War's end reduced superpower hegemony in much of the developing world, the Arab region witnessed an increased security and economic dependence on the United States. As a result, the preferences of the United States matter greatly to middle-class Arab citizens, not just the elite, and citizens will restrain their pursuit of democratization, rationalizing their backing for the status quo because of U.S. geostrategic priorities. Demonstrating how the preferences of an international patron serve as a constraint or an opportunity to push for democracy, Jamal questions bottom-up approaches to democratization, which assume that states are autonomous units in the world order. Jamal contends that even now, with the overthrow of some autocratic Arab regimes, the future course of Arab democratization will be influenced by the perception of American reactions. Concurrently, the United States must address the troubling sources of the region's rising anti-Americanism.


Book Synopsis Of Empires and Citizens by : Amaney A. Jamal

Download or read book Of Empires and Citizens written by Amaney A. Jamal and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2012-09-09 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the post-Cold War era, why has democratization been slow to arrive in the Arab world? This book argues that to understand support for the authoritarian status quo in parts of this region--and the willingness of its citizens to compromise on core democratic principles--one must factor in how a strong U.S. presence and popular anti-Americanism weakens democratic voices. Examining such countries as Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, Amaney Jamal explores how Arab citizens decide whether to back existing regimes, regime transitions, and democratization projects, and how the global position of Arab states shapes people's attitudes toward their governments. While the Cold War's end reduced superpower hegemony in much of the developing world, the Arab region witnessed an increased security and economic dependence on the United States. As a result, the preferences of the United States matter greatly to middle-class Arab citizens, not just the elite, and citizens will restrain their pursuit of democratization, rationalizing their backing for the status quo because of U.S. geostrategic priorities. Demonstrating how the preferences of an international patron serve as a constraint or an opportunity to push for democracy, Jamal questions bottom-up approaches to democratization, which assume that states are autonomous units in the world order. Jamal contends that even now, with the overthrow of some autocratic Arab regimes, the future course of Arab democratization will be influenced by the perception of American reactions. Concurrently, the United States must address the troubling sources of the region's rising anti-Americanism.

Shoring Up Autocracy

Shoring Up Autocracy

Author: Hannah S. Chapman

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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How do autocrats build support? In this dissertation, I provide a theory of how non-democracies utilize nominally-democratic communication strategies to maintain regime stability and bolster public support. I argue that authoritarian leaders create and maintain what I call participatory technologies-elite-mass communication strategies that pro- mote two-way interaction between citizens and leaders-in order to engage their citizens in the political process. Instead of being relegated to mere bystanders in the political dis- course, ordinary people are actively engaged in its construction. By giving citizens a voice, however limited, in an otherwise restrictive system, governments increase support while limiting the uncertainty and potential loss of control typically associated with traditional forms of participation. I examine this theory in a detailed case study of Russia under President Putin. Although traditional methods of limiting dissent and building public support continue to hold a key place in Russia's menu of manipulation, the regime's emphasis on technology has ushered in an era where more sophisticated formula are privileged over methods typically used by non-democratic regimes. In the case study, I use content and discourse analysis of two original datasets to detail the development of "The Direct Line with Vladimir Putin"-an annual, live question-and-answer session in which Putin discusses issues and concerns raised by members of the public-Russia's participatory technology par excellence. I rigorously test the theory examined in the case study through original survey experiments fielded on a nationally-representative sample in Russia. Results suggest that awareness of participatory technologies can improve perceptions of voice and autocratic approval and that these effects can be attributed specifically to the communicative format of these technologies, not simply co-optation or leadership effects. However, participatory technologies do not influence all individuals equally. Drawing from work on the relationship between political awareness, political biases, and public support, I examine how political sophistication and biases toward the government influence the effect of participatory technologies on public opinion. I find that individuals with low sophistication-those with low education, limited interest in politics, and low political participation-and high levels of government trust are most affected by exposure to participatory technologies. However, individuals who are biased against the government are negatively influenced by exposure, suggesting that these communication strategies may have the potential for political polarization and backlash against the regime. I then turn my focus from citizens to the government. In addition to helping shape public opinion, participatory technologies can reflect public opinion, acting as an information gather tool for states. In particular, I argue that these technologies act as a barometer of public opinion and help to mitigate principal-agent problems, potentially improving non-democratic governance. I substantiate these arguments using interview data and content and discourse analysis in Russia. The inherent feedback function of participatory technologies provides states with detailed information about the thoughts, opinions, and concerns of society with few of the drawbacks of traditional information-gathering tools. Furthermore, by facilitating interaction between ordinary citizens and the highest levels of government, these technologies provide information about the performance of mid- and low-level government officials, improving monitoring and ultimately constraining these officials from pursuing their own self-interest to the detriment of society.


Book Synopsis Shoring Up Autocracy by : Hannah S. Chapman

Download or read book Shoring Up Autocracy written by Hannah S. Chapman and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do autocrats build support? In this dissertation, I provide a theory of how non-democracies utilize nominally-democratic communication strategies to maintain regime stability and bolster public support. I argue that authoritarian leaders create and maintain what I call participatory technologies-elite-mass communication strategies that pro- mote two-way interaction between citizens and leaders-in order to engage their citizens in the political process. Instead of being relegated to mere bystanders in the political dis- course, ordinary people are actively engaged in its construction. By giving citizens a voice, however limited, in an otherwise restrictive system, governments increase support while limiting the uncertainty and potential loss of control typically associated with traditional forms of participation. I examine this theory in a detailed case study of Russia under President Putin. Although traditional methods of limiting dissent and building public support continue to hold a key place in Russia's menu of manipulation, the regime's emphasis on technology has ushered in an era where more sophisticated formula are privileged over methods typically used by non-democratic regimes. In the case study, I use content and discourse analysis of two original datasets to detail the development of "The Direct Line with Vladimir Putin"-an annual, live question-and-answer session in which Putin discusses issues and concerns raised by members of the public-Russia's participatory technology par excellence. I rigorously test the theory examined in the case study through original survey experiments fielded on a nationally-representative sample in Russia. Results suggest that awareness of participatory technologies can improve perceptions of voice and autocratic approval and that these effects can be attributed specifically to the communicative format of these technologies, not simply co-optation or leadership effects. However, participatory technologies do not influence all individuals equally. Drawing from work on the relationship between political awareness, political biases, and public support, I examine how political sophistication and biases toward the government influence the effect of participatory technologies on public opinion. I find that individuals with low sophistication-those with low education, limited interest in politics, and low political participation-and high levels of government trust are most affected by exposure to participatory technologies. However, individuals who are biased against the government are negatively influenced by exposure, suggesting that these communication strategies may have the potential for political polarization and backlash against the regime. I then turn my focus from citizens to the government. In addition to helping shape public opinion, participatory technologies can reflect public opinion, acting as an information gather tool for states. In particular, I argue that these technologies act as a barometer of public opinion and help to mitigate principal-agent problems, potentially improving non-democratic governance. I substantiate these arguments using interview data and content and discourse analysis in Russia. The inherent feedback function of participatory technologies provides states with detailed information about the thoughts, opinions, and concerns of society with few of the drawbacks of traditional information-gathering tools. Furthermore, by facilitating interaction between ordinary citizens and the highest levels of government, these technologies provide information about the performance of mid- and low-level government officials, improving monitoring and ultimately constraining these officials from pursuing their own self-interest to the detriment of society.