The Street and the Ballot Box: Interactions Between Social Movements and Electoral Politics in Authoritarian Contexts

(Cambridge University Press, Elements Series in Contentious Politics, 2022)

How do discontented masses and opposition elites work together to engineer a change in electoral authoritarian regimes? Social movements and elections are often seen as operating in different terrains – outside and inside institutions, respectively. In this Element, I develop a theory to describe how a broad-based social movement that champions a grievance shared by a wide segment of the population can build alliances across society and opposition elites that, despite the rules of the game rigged against them, vote the incumbents out of power. The broad-based nature of the movement also contributes to the cohesion of the opposition alliance, and elite defection, which are often crucial for regime change. This Element examines the 2018 Malaysian election and draws on a range of cases from other authoritarian regimes across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa to illustrate these arguments.

Purchase it here

Book Launch, March 14th, 2022

Discussant: Dan Slater, Director, Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Moderator: Satu Limaye, Vice-President, East-West Center

Hosted by the East-West Center in Washington DC

 

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