Since the 19th Party Congress, China has been asserting its model of (authoritarian) governance as an alternative to liberal democracy and affirming its desire to export it. Since it can harm their...Show moreSince the 19th Party Congress, China has been asserting its model of (authoritarian) governance as an alternative to liberal democracy and affirming its desire to export it. Since it can harm their economy and political power, boldly voicing the goal of authoritarian expansionism seems counterproductive. There is no consensus on the driving force behind China's authoritarian expansionism. This thesis employs a multidisciplinary approach to formulate a more nuanced and comprehensive explanation. Three established explanations—‘security from foreign intervention,’ ‘popular legitimacy through ideology,’ and ‘solving elite rivalry’—are identified and tested using process tracing to find the most plausible explanation. None of the explanations emerged as adequate; therefore, this thesis proposes a new explanation of ‘regime survival’ as the primary driving force behind authoritarian expansionism. 'Popular legitimacy through ideology,’ and ‘solving elite rivalry,' are domestic dynamics that interact and threaten regime preservation. Authoritarian expansionism allows for policies that could resolve these threats, at least in the short term.Show less
This thesis aims to show how authoritarian regimes opt for using small-scale violence against minority out-groups to counteract any regime instability. Essentially it argues that authoritarian...Show moreThis thesis aims to show how authoritarian regimes opt for using small-scale violence against minority out-groups to counteract any regime instability. Essentially it argues that authoritarian leaders change out-group treatment according to the needs of their stability. It is a within-case study, focused on the Coptic christian minority in Egypt. It traces the treatment of Copts under Sadat and under Mubarak. The thesis found that the biggest need or factor in determining out-group treatment is domestic legitimacy. By bringing various theories on authoritarian regimes and minority treatment together, this thesis proposes the stoking fire theory. By allowing violence to be perpetrated against minority groups, regimes stoke a small fire and keep it burning for a regime's own survival. It is the first step in arguing that low-level violence, perpetrated by state and citizen, is used for strategic purposes, as others have argued for mass violence. The insights in the nexus between the three factors (domestic legitimacy, an out-groups refusal to be co-opted and external support) for out-group treatment can help foreign policy makers in determining finding the best timing to pressure regimes for democratization, if that is truly their pursuit, and when to support an out-group without becoming the topic of rumored ‘evil’ relations between out-group and democratic supporter. More importantly, by understanding how their position is used by autocrats, out-groups may better understand their predicament at a given time. Understanding their behavior and the changing needs of an authoritarian regime, they may be better able to see increased violence coming, giving them the chance to defend themselves against it.Show less
Jordan is undoubtedly a highly resilient state. Many scholars have claimed that Jordan constitutes a “hybrid system of governance” combining features of both democracy and autocracy. The main...Show moreJordan is undoubtedly a highly resilient state. Many scholars have claimed that Jordan constitutes a “hybrid system of governance” combining features of both democracy and autocracy. The main debates on the field are increasingly revolving around the persistence of its political stability. The current thesis explores the persistence of the Jordanian monarchy since the onset of its political liberalization in 1989 and demonstrates that the regime in Jordan employed several regime survival strategies, based on legitimation, co-optation and repression in order to ensure its longevity. To better illustrate the current argument, the research that follows attempts a theory testing, based on these three key theories which - with the support of both primary and secondary sources - try to explain the puzzle of monarchical regime endurance in Jordan.Show less
