International Dimensions of Authoritarian Rule

Despite revived scholarly interest in the politics of authoritarian rule, the international dimensions of its persistence remain both under-theorized and under-investigated empirically. In the aftermath of the Cold War and parallel to the ensuing processes of transnationalization and globalization, changes in the way external factors impact political dynamics in authoritarian regimes are to be expected. This workshop will also assess how the international repercussions of authoritarian rule have evolved and perhaps increased. To explore these issues, we invite papers which deal with (1) broader trends increasing overt international pressure on authoritarian regimes; (2) subtle and unintentional international influences on authoritarian rulers and regimes; (3) how authoritarian regimes may cooperate with each other, and how they support, protect and learn from each other; and (4) the influence of “authoritarian great powers” on other authoritarian regimes and on international structures and organizations. We particularly welcome papers which enrich our knowledge on the international dimensions of authoritarian rule from the following perspectives: • Conceptual and theoretical contributions, in particular those which combine concepts and insights from international relations and comparative politics • Empirical, particularly comparative, analyses (be they small-, medium- or large-N) • Mixed-methods approaches which combine qualitative and quantitative methods • Cross-regional selection of cases