|
Title
|
|
|
|
Power to decouple : hybrid regimes in the international system: a multimethod analysis
| |
|
Author
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Objectives. Hybrid regimes, i.e. regimes mixing democratic and authoritarian elements, became an inherent part of the post-Cold War order. The main research questions addressed in this PhD study is what explains the rise and stability of hybrid regimes? And what is the role of the international environment and state capacity in this regard? Macro-sociological theory offers competing insights on these questions. World society theory argues that hybrid regimes are a temporary phenomenon resulting from the gradual diffusion of Western institutions due to globalization. World-systems theory, by contrast, posits that hybrid regimes are simply a new type of authoritarianism stemming from unequal international exchange. Both theories also differ in the way they conceive effects of state capacity on hybrid regimes. Where world society theory points out that state capacity is derived from global cultural forces, indicating that the diffusion of political and state models are two sides of the same coin, world-system theorists claim that state capacity is a tool in the hands of the core and an instrument to pursue authoritarianism and core interests in the periphery. Both theories offer determinist arguments about hybrid regimes. Comparative political economy differs in this respect because, on the one hand, this framework argues that the impact of the international environment on hybrid regimes is conditional upon the overall structure of power-dependence relations, creating opportunities as well as constraints. Moreover, the political economy perspective also presents the state as an actor with agency, holding the potential capacity to mitigate domestic and international influences and to ultimately decide about political regime form. Methods. A multimethod framework is applied to investigate direct (e.g. via international relations) and indirect (i.e. via state capacity) forms of democracy diffusion. Hybrid regimes are conceptualized in a multidimensional vein and measured using disaggregated indicators, confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical clustering techniques. The international environment is operationalized as a multiplex power-dependence network distinguishing between economic, political, and military forms of exchange. Direct effects of these networks on hybrid regimes are examined through ego-network analysis and event history analysis. State capacity is furthermore conceptualized by differentiating between despotic and infrastructural state power. Through comparative-historical analysis of secondary data, investigating (divergent) political regime trajectories in Rwanda and Burundi after the Cold War, the indirect path of democracy diffusion is examined. Results. The results of the PhD thesis point to the importance of power-dependence relations and despotic state capacity for explaining hybrid regimes. Where embeddedness in power-dependence networks with mainly democratic partners stimulates democratization, embeddedness in power networks with mostly authoritarian partners impedes it. Yet, the positive effect of power-dependence networks with mainly ABSTRACT 22 democratic partners on democratization declines significantly after the Cold War, which is related to the rapid rise of the People's Republic of China in international trade. The results illustrate that the sudden efflorescence and subsequent stability of hybrid regimes resulted from complex power dynamics within the international system due to globalization, creating new opportunities and limiting constraints for dependent states and allowing for agency. The comparative-historical analysis, furthermore, highlights the role of despotic state capacity in guarding international and domestic influences and to produce hybrid regimes. The results indicate that only in a context of low state despotic power, international pressure to democratize has the ability to yield democracy. On the other hand, when despotic power is high and combined with international pressure to democratize, the analysis suggests the outcome is mostly a hybrid regime where state elites use state capacity to mediate pressure by turning to window-dressing. If window-dressing is accepted and leads to the flow of resources, foreign powers strengthen the hybrid character of the regime. Moreover, when despotic power is high and international pressure to democratize absent, the outcome is a stronger type of authoritarianism strengthened by the transfer of international resources. Finally, when despotic power and international pressure to democratize are low, the outcome depends upon the balance of forces along the state-society nexus. The findings provide evidence for a political economy perspective on democracy diffusion. The international environment as well as state capacity provide sources of power to decouple from the democratic script, explaining hybrid regimes. |
| |
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
| |
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
Antwerpen
:
Universiteit Antwerpen, Instituut voor Ontwikkelingsbeleid en -beheer
,
2019
| |
|
ISBN
|
|
|
|
978-90-5728-629-2
| |
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
324 p.
| |
|
Note
|
|
|
|
:
Molenaers, Nadia [Supervisor]
:
Rossem, Van, Ronan [Supervisor]
| |
|
Full text (open access)
|
|
|
|
| |
|