The digitalisation of political expression impacted social movement organisation. The global proliferation of information and communication technology (ICT) digitalised social movements towards...Show moreThe digitalisation of political expression impacted social movement organisation. The global proliferation of information and communication technology (ICT) digitalised social movements towards networked collective action. This fuelled the optimism about ICTs as liberalisation tool. Yet, authoritarian regimes showed increasing sophistication in digital repression which urges to investigate the link between digital repression (DR) and mobilisation. I use complementary insights from connective action theory and disconnective action theory to address the research question: What is the effect of DR on mobilisation? By arguing DR is multi-dimensional, the goal of this analysis is to establish the relationship between DR and mobilisation in authoritarian regimes. To this end, I conduct a systematic, global analysis. With an OLS regression, my large-N study analyses authoritarian regimes from 2000 until 2021. The findings are qualitatively supported with two case studies to address endogeneity concerns. On the one hand, I expect a prevention effect on mobilisation if DR is performed as long-term information manipulation. On the other hand, I hypothesise an escalation effect on mobilisation if DR is executed in form of a short-term information vacuum. Though the results are mixed, I conclude that there is initial support for both prevention and escalation effect of DR. I derive that DR is multi-dimensional and can prevent, but also escalate mobilisation.Show less
Combining literature on autocratic stability and regime legitimation, this thesis seeks to explore the dynamics between economic shocks in patron states and a decrease in the political stability of...Show moreCombining literature on autocratic stability and regime legitimation, this thesis seeks to explore the dynamics between economic shocks in patron states and a decrease in the political stability of its client state(s). This research focuses on Russia as the patron state, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its client states. It finds that output legitimacy is the primary strategy of legitimation of Central Asian states, and that economic crises in Russia directly impact the stability of the researched states. However, this effect is somewhat alleviated by moderating factors in the case of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.Show less
Throughout history, popular mass uprisings have led to many regime crises in Africa and the Middle East. The comportment of the military is of great importance as it shapes a revolt’s outcome....Show moreThroughout history, popular mass uprisings have led to many regime crises in Africa and the Middle East. The comportment of the military is of great importance as it shapes a revolt’s outcome. Coups d’état are the traditional indicator for measuring military behaviour. Various domestic and international factors affect the behaviour of the armed forces and thus, coups. This thesis looks at one of the most critical international influencers: foreign military aid. More precisely, it tries to understand how two specific U.S. Foreign Military Assistance programs, the IMET program and the FMF program, affect the behaviour of the recipient African or Middle Eastern military. Data on coup outcome and success are used to measure military behaviour. A cross-national statistical analysis is conducted in 60 countries between 2000 and 2018. The analysis finds that more education and training lead to a smaller chance for a coup to be attempted and to be successful in the recipient country. Furthermore, it finds that as U.S. financing increases, so does the likelihood of a coup. Apart from this, the results indicate a significant positive relationship between the effect of the FMF program on the chances of a coup to be successful.Show less
