Sponsored by the Kellogg Institute Democratization Theory Research Cluster, this workshop convenes international scholars to reconceptualize democratic theory in light of the diversity, complexity, and dynamism of political regimes. Panels will focus on the role of international factors, coups, and civil society while also considering the phenomenon of democratic backsliding and hybrid regimes.
Now in its third year, the Democratization Theory Research Cluster continues the Kellogg Institute's long tradition as a center for innovative thinking in democratization theory.
Panel I: Coups
Chair: Gary Goertz
Over the past decade there has been a new wave of research on coups. The Kellogg Institute “coup group” contributes to this literature by introducing an original dataset of regional and global norms on coups. In addition to analyzing how these norms affect the incidence of coups, the group investigates how the application of the norms affects the outcome of coups and explores post-coup factors such as elections, fates of leaders, and the like. The panel is devoted to the influence of international factors on coups and the results of coups such as elections, etc.
Panel II: International Factors
Chair: Michael Coppedge
This panel brings together scholars with different perspectives on how international factors affect regime change. Are international influences the best explanations for the well-known geographic clustering and historical waves of democratization? Which pathways of international influence matter most? What can different methods reveal about these relationships? Do they hold lessons for democracy promotion efforts?
Panel III: Backsliding and Hybrid Regimes
Chair: Aníbal Pérez-Liñán
The panel attempts to tackle the pressing issue of democratic backsliding and hybrid regimes, with a particular focus on Latin America and Eastern Europe. Do we need to recraft classical theories of democratic breakdown to understand these processes? The objective is to further push the discussions on the drivers of regime change, specially related to political leadership and populism, polarization dynamics, and the rule of law.
Panel IV: Inclusion and Transitional Justice / Civil Society
Chairs: Dianne Pinderhughes and Samuel Valenzuela
How can we put in dialogue discussions on contentious politics and civil society dynamics with classical insights on regime change? The objective of this panel is to recraft existing democratic theories to shed light on topics such as transitional justice processes, labor movements, political incorporation, and social movements from a comparative perspective.