In person icon Democratic Norms in Authoritarian Contexts: Instruments of Legitimation or Resistance?

Abstract

Authoritarian regimes display a puzzling feature. Contrary to the expectation that they repress democratic institutions and undermine good governance, gender equality, and transparency, they often develop and implement policies and projects that promote these and other democratic norms and principles. These developments often occur with the support of international governmental and non-governmental organizations operating in non-democratic countries and providing various forms of assistance. Policies and programs focused on good governance and democratic norm promotion in autocracies and backsliding democracies present an interesting case, particularly in sectoral policies (e.g., environmental governance) that require modern technologies, compliance with international standards, and significant funding. They may also promote principles—such as gender equality or public participation—that are not part of the national government's agenda but are prioritized and supported by international organizations. However, when these democratic principles and norms are utilized in non-democracies, they lose their original meaning and become a means of the regime's legitimation, and might be used by state propaganda. Meanwhile, civil society strives to resist such manipulation of democratic norms, utilizing available (though limited) tools. Drawing on Gerschewski's (2013) conceptualization of authoritarian stabilization mechanisms—legitimation, repression, and co-optation—this panel examines how good governance and other democratic principles are promoted and implemented in authoritarian regimes (e.g., Belarus) and countries experiencing democratic backsliding (e.g., Georgia). It explores how these principles and practices are adapted to ensure the survival and consolidation of non-democratic regimes and which tools the governments use for these purposes. Additionally, the panel investigates grassroots resistance strategies of civil society and examines how it opposes authoritarian manipulation and human rights violations. This panel delves into the multifaceted relationship between democratic backsliding, authoritarian consolidation, and the institutions, policies, and external assistance programs originally designed to promote good governance and democratic norms, using examples from two former Soviet Union countries—Georgia and Belarus—both of which experience significant geopolitical influence from the democratic European Union and authoritarian Russia. The papers of the panel analyze the Georgian case of gender equality principle promotion using the concept of authoritarian legitimation; they discuss how the authoritarian government in Belarus incorporates good governance principles into the public administration system as a means of consolidating power and explore Belarus's two-fold strategy in nuclear governance with a parallel increasing of international collaboration regarding nuclear safety and moving away from public participation principles. The panel investigates the resistance strategies of civil society to the authoritarian consolidation and co-optation developments in both countries. It also analyzes how the governments use the values and social media tools supported and promoted by Russia in their propaganda.

Title	Details
Gendered Dimensions of Political Legitimation in Georgia	View Paper Details
Good Governance Promotion in the Context of Authoritarian Consolidation: the Case of Belarus	View Paper Details
Between International Cooperation and Disengagement: How Belarus Deals with Nuclear Governance Issues in the Context of Authoritarian Consolidation	View Paper Details
The Resilient Belarusian Civil Society: Developments of Support and Solidarity with Political Prisoners	View Paper Details
Legitimation Tactics of the Belarusian Regime Through Online Propaganda	View Paper Details