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Authoritarian Institutions and Regime Survival: Transitions to Democracy and Subsequent Autocracy

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  • Wright, Joseph
  • Escribà-Folch, Abel

Abstract

This article examines how authoritarian parties and legislatures affect regime survival. While authoritarian legislatures increase the stability of dictators, political parties – even when devised to quell internal threats – can destabilize dictators. The main argument is that authoritarian parties influence the distribution of power in a subsequent new democracy by helping to protect the interests of authoritarian elites. These institutions thus increase the likelihood of democratization. Using a dataset of authoritarian regimes in 108 countries from 1946 to 2002 and accounting for simultaneity, the analysis models transitions to democracy and to a subsequent authoritarian regime. Results indicate that authoritarian legislatures are associated with a lower probability of transition to a subsequent dictatorship. Authoritarian parties, however, are associated with a higher likelihood of democratization.

Suggested Citation

  • Wright, Joseph & Escribà-Folch, Abel, 2012. "Authoritarian Institutions and Regime Survival: Transitions to Democracy and Subsequent Autocracy," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 42(2), pages 283-309, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:42:y:2012:i:02:p:283-309_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Bove, Vincenzo & Nisticò, Roberto, 2014. "Military in politics and budgetary allocations," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 1065-1078.
    2. Santiago López-Cariboni & Xun Cao, 2019. "When do authoritarian rulers educate: Trade competition and human capital investment in Non-Democracies," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 367-405, September.
    3. Masanori Kubota & Kaoru Hidaka & Taku Yukawa, 2022. "The Post-Exile Fate of Leaders: A New Dataset," OSIPP Discussion Paper 22E001, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University.
    4. Vincenzo Bove & Jennifer Brauner, 2016. "The demand for military expenditure in authoritarian regimes," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 609-625, September.
    5. Michael K. Miller, 2020. "The Autocratic Ruling Parties Dataset: Origins, Durability, and Death," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(4), pages 756-782, April.
    6. Vakhtang Putkaradze, 2023. "The Dictator Dilemma: The Distortion of Information Flow in Autocratic Regimes and Its Consequences," Papers 2310.01666, arXiv.org, revised Mar 2024.
    7. Mauricio Rivera, 2017. "Authoritarian Institutions and State Repression," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 61(10), pages 2183-2207, November.
    8. Patrik Lindenfors & Matthew Wilson & Staffan I. Lindberg, 2020. "The Matthew effect in political science: head start and key reforms important for democratization," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-4, December.
    9. Nam Kyu Kim, 2021. "Previous Military Rule and Democratic Survival," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 65(2-3), pages 534-562, February.
    10. Mehmet Onder, 2019. "Regime Type, Issue Type and Economic Sanctions: The Role of Domestic Players," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-18, December.
    11. Christopher Wiley Shay, 2023. "Swords into ploughshares? Why human rights abuses persist after resistance campaigns," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 60(1), pages 141-156, January.
    12. Leininger, Julia, 2022. "International democracy promotion in times of autocratization: From supporting to protecting democracy," IDOS Discussion Papers 21/2022, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).

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