Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War (Problems of International Politics)

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of competitive authoritarian regimes in the post-Cold War era, exploring their fate based on a detailed study of 35 cases across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and post-communist Eurasia.

The authors find that where social, economic, and technocratic ties to the West were extensive, incumbents were more likely to cede power rather than crack down, leading to democratization.

However, where these ties were limited, external democratizing pressure was weaker, and regimes rarely democratized.

The book highlights the importance of state and ruling party organizations in determining regime outcomes, with cohesive coercive party structures allowing incumbents to thwart opposition challenges and maintain power.

This insightful study will be widely read and cited by scholars and policymakers interested in understanding the complex dynamics of competitive authoritarian regimes.