11. International actors Flashcards
How do international actors promote autocratization?
- individual states share strategies + information with other autoritarian regimes
- organizations allowing Authoritarian members without strict rules
- democracy aid can backfire by legitimizing unfair elections
- Linkage & leverage can work for autocracy
Example of authoritarian state influencing others?
Russia supports Belarus, and post-Soviet states not just to spread autocracy but to protects its own regime.
How ethical is international influence on democratization?
imposing democracy is anti-democratic
Western countries assume they know best, but local context matters
Democracy aid is only effective if locals want democracy but need support
What are main ways international actors promote democracy?
- Colonial occupation
*military interventions - linkage & leverage
- geostrategic importance
(democracy promoted where it aligns with Western interests) - Democracy aid
How has colonialism affect democratization?
Mixed evidence: Some colonies had pre-independence elections and parliaments that helped democratization.
Institutional choices (e.g., parliamentary systems, power-sharing) could help democracy.
Negative legacies: Divide-and-rule, ethnic conflict, biased legal systems, underdevelopment undermined democratization.
What are advantages of military interventions for democratization
- can remove dictators
- can end civil wars/ rebellions
- can help set up democratic institutions
What are disadvantages of military interventions for democratization?
- Civilian casualities and destruction
- expensive
- democracy may not stick
- risk of more conflict
Examples of military interventions in democratization
Succesful? NATO intervention in Bosnia
Unsuccesful? Iraq & Afghanistan—lack of local support and stability.
What is linkage?
the density of a country’s ties to the West
(US, EU, international institutions)
Types of linkage
- Economic linkage
- Geopolitical linkage
- Social linkage
- Communication linkage
- Transnational civil society linkage
What is leverage?
a government’s vulnerability to external pressure
- depending on state size, military, economic strenght, regional alliances.
leverage refers to ability of external actors to pressure authoritarian regimes into democratiziation
How does leverage promote democratizaton?
leverage refers to ability of external actors to pressure authoritarian regimes into democratiziation
it raises the cost of:
1. Repression (sanctions, loss military aid etc)
- Electoral fraud (international election monitors, diplomatic pressure etc.)
- Government abuses
–> media censorship, corruption become riskier if external actors impose penalties. (e. asset freezes ).
How does linkage promote democratization (4 ways)
- media exposes government abuse
–> increase visibility of authoritarian actors - increase chance of international response
–> repression riskier - creates domestic pro-democracy actors
(domestic stakeholders) - Shifts power in favor of democracy supporters.
Why does linkage have a stronger effect than leverage? ( Levitsky & Way)
Linkage changes public opinion from within, provides opportunities for external actors to push for democracy.
leverage is external pressure. making it less effective unless combined with linkage.
Most succesful example of linkage/ leverage?
EU enlargement
–> democratic reforms required for membership
How does geostrategic importance affect democratization?
If a country is strategically important, democracy promotion is weaker.
Western countries prioritize security/economics over democracy.
What are examples of “sticks” and “carrots” used by international actors?
Sticks: sanctions, cutting aid, freezing assets.
Carrots: loans, investment, trade agreements, international recognition.
Why does effectiveness depend on linkage + leverage?
high linkage: more influence over public opinion
high leverage: more pressure on government
Under what conditions is democracy aid most effective?
- stable investment over time
- focused investment in 1-2 areas (not spread too thin)
- most effective in hybrid regimes transitioning into democracy
- not effective in backsliding countries.
Why does democracy aid have diminishing returns
After $200-300 million per year, extra aid has little impact.
What is Sequencing debate in democracy aid?
Whether democracy should come first, or economic development should come first.
Why do some argue for a ‘‘development-first’ approach?
A strong state is needed first for democracy to last
weak institutions lead to instability + backsliding
some authoritarian regimes accept development aid (finances) but reject democracy aid.
How do authoritarian states learn from each other?
- copying repression techniques (controlling media, election fraud)
- Using propaganda
- restricting civil society (legal barriers)
How can linkage + leverage be used to promote autocracy?
*authoritarian diffusion: regimes copying each other
* economic dependency: trade
* soft power: framing autocracy as legitimate alternative
Factors defining the strength of leverage:
- State size, military, and economic strength
*Competing issues on Western foreign policy agendas
*Counter-pressure from other regional powers
