Democratization and Autocratization Studies
About the Book Series
Today, studies on democratization and its opposite, autocratization, are characterized by conceptual, theoretical and methodological pluralism, and studies on changes to both coexist, and account for the role of the national and international circulation and diffusion of ideas, and on the consequences of these processes of change on societies.
Democratization and Autocratization Studies offers itself as space for the debate and reference point for all those interested in understanding the most recent regime transition and transformation processes, and to follow the latest developments in the discipline.
The series examines the determinants, modalities, actors, consequences, and correlates of both democratization and autocratization globally, and accepts both empirically grounded and theoretical works. It considers sole- or jointly-authored, and edited, volumes, both full length and shorter, as well as handbooks. All proposals are subjected to peer review.
If you have an idea for a new book in Democratization and Autocratization Studies, please send a written proposal to the Series Editors:
Luca Tomini, Université libre de Bruxelles [email protected]
Seraphine F. Maerz, University of Gothenburg [email protected] , [email protected]
Quality of Democracy at Regional Level in the V4 Countries: Patterns and Institutions
1st Edition
By Pavel Maškarinec
October 01, 2025
This book systematically examines regional-level qualities of democracy – representation, participation, and competition – in four countries of Central and Eastern Europe between 1994 and 2022 – from the establishment of regional self-government to present day. Focussing on their common EU ...
Why Neo-Militant Democracies Endure: The Inner Six in Comparative Perspective
1st Edition
Edited
By Joanna Rak
July 31, 2025
This book examines how contemporary militant democracies persist in the face of authoritarian abuses occurring during times of crisis. Focusing on founding members of the European Union, it explores how these democracies implemented anti-democratic measures without compromising their political ...
Elite Origins of Democracy and Development in the Muslim World
1st Edition
By Michael T. Rock, Soli Özel
May 06, 2025
Using an elite consensus/conflict analytical frame, this book examines why some majority Muslim countries perform so much better at democracy and/or development than others, questioning received wisdoms that Islam, authoritarianism, and underdevelopment go together. Identifying four distinct ...
The Global Rise of Autocracy: Its Threat to a Sustainable Future
1st Edition
Edited
By Barbara Wejnert
March 20, 2025
This book revitalizes the discourse on backsliding democracy and the global rise of autocracy, extending the consequences of their changes to a sustainable future. In three sections, the book systematically examines diverse pathways leading autocracies to rise and spread worldwide and debates the ...
Parties, Politics, Peace: Electoral Inclusion as Peacebuilding
1st Edition
By Carrie Manning, Ian O. Smith, Ozlem Tuncel Gurlek
November 28, 2024
This pathbreaking book uncovers the important, underappreciated role of armed opposition groups turned political parties in shaping long-term patterns of politics after war. Based on an empirically grounded and theoretically informed retrospective on nearly 30 years of post-conflict democratic ...
Judges and Democratization: Judicial Independence in New Democracies
2nd Edition
By B. C. Smith
May 27, 2024
This second edition examines judicial independence as an aspect of democratization based on the premise that democracy cannot be consolidated without the rule of law of which judicial independence is an indispensable part. It pays particular attention to the restraints placed upon judicial ...
The Effects of Rebel Parties on Governance, Democracy and Stability after Civil Wars: From Guns to Governing
1st Edition
Edited
By John Ishiyama, Gyda M. Sindre
May 27, 2024
This book provides a systematic overview and in-depth analysis of the effects of rebel group inclusion on democracy following the end of conflict across the globe. It examines different types of rebel groups, addressing the subject matter through the lens of three dimensions – democracy, stability...
Neo-militant Democracies in Post-communist Member States of the European Union
1st Edition
Edited
By Joanna Rak, Roman Bäcker
January 29, 2024
This book examines contemporary militant democracies in post-communist states in the European Union.Examining, through case studies, their broader relevance to political, legal, and social structures, this book looks in revealing detail at the struggles between these democratic and anti-democratic ...
Democracies in Peril?: Waves of Backsliding
1st Edition
By Hans Keman
December 19, 2023
This insightful text rigorously examines and accounts for contemporary developments – and crucially a reversal of “democraticness” – in democratic polities and related political processes comparing 38 democracies across the world. The focus is on contemporary developments and recent volatile levels...
How Democracy Survives: Global Challenges in the Anthropocene
1st Edition
Edited
By Michael Holm, R. S. Deese
December 26, 2022
How Democracy Survives explores how liberal democracy can better adapt to the planetary challenges of our time by evolving beyond the Westphalian paradigm of the nation state. The authors bring perspectives from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America, their chapters engaging with ...
International Aid and Democracy Promotion: Liberalization at the Margins
1st Edition
By Bann Seng Tan
April 29, 2022
International Aid and Democracy Promotion investigates the link between foreign aid and the promotion of democracy, using theory, statistical tests, and illustrative case studies. This book challenges the field of development to recognize that democracy promotion is unlike other development goals....
Nationalism, Referendums and Democracy: Voting on Ethnic Issues and Independence
2nd Edition
Edited
By Matt Qvortrup
March 18, 2020
This revised and expanded edition analyses the factors conducive to holding independence and secession referendums, to winning these votes and to their status in domestic and international law. Taking into account the votes in Catalonia and Scotland, the book shows that votes on secession and ...