The Politics of IGO On-Site Monitoring in Authoritarian Regimes

Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) play an instrumental role in ensuring international norm compliance through on-site monitoring missions. However, conducting such missions in authoritarian regimes presents a challenging environment, as these regimes are reluctant to be monitored. How then can monitoring IGOs endure and function within these repressive environments? This article seeks to address this puzzle, focusing on the interplay between IGOs and autocratic governments. Drawing from elite interviews and official documents, particularly concerning the International Labour Organization's (ILO) mission in Uzbekistan, I argue that cooperation between IGOs and authoritarian states can be understood as a strategic partnership. This partnership, emerging from mutual suspicion and shared interests, matures through trust-building efforts, facilitated by dialogues, joint activities, and symbolic gestures. As the partnership develops, it fosters an environment conducive to open information exchange, granting IGOs some influence over domestic policy areas. Once trust is established, autocratic leaders are more amenable to collaboration, potentially leading to enhanced adherence to international commitments. However, this strategic partnership is not without its drawbacks, potentially boosting an autocratic regime's global legitimacy and overshadowing democratic advocacy. Furthermore, the inherent political undertones of the partnership give rise to internal and external contestations, underscoring the intricate balance IGOs must maintain when aligning with repressive regimes. These insights offer substantive implications for our understanding of IGO compliance endeavors and authoritarian practices. I also provide policy recommendations, underscoring the importance of fostering collaboration between IGOs, NGOs, and civil society in these missions. Future research should focus on the ethical and normative dimensions of such strategic partnerships.