International Competitive Involvement During Democratic Transitions and State Repression

Abstract

The end of the Cold War brought increasing attention to the role of the international environment in undermining or strengthening authoritarian rule. While high levels of linkages to the West and international pressures facilitated transitions and liberalization in many cases, certain scholars have examined the role of Western powers in "democracy prevention" in various regions. More recently and with the increasing role of Russia, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia in propping up dictators and undermining transitions, studies on the international dimension have further shifted from "democracy promotion" to "autocracy promotion" and "authoritarian diffusion." International "Black Knights" have used various forms of economic, military, and political assistance to bolster their authoritarian allies. Such international linkages have been found to significantly enhance autocrats' repressive capacity and undermine political transitions.