Skip to main content
Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation IGCC
  1. HOME
  2. Research
  3. Authoritarian International Organizations

internal-banner_authoritarian-ios.jpegAuthoritarian International Organizations

The rise of authoritarian regional organizations—institutions with largely authoritarian members—pose potential challenges to U.S. foreign policy: in Asia, where China and Russia play significant roles; in the Middle East; and in Africa. Playing roles as aid donors, election monitors, and even as partners with the west in counterterrorism and peacekeeping, the influence of authoritarian regional organizations is understudied. Yet these institutions can augment the capabilities of authoritarian powers, blunt prospects for democratic rule, and influence economic policy in ways that challenge an open world economy. This IGCC initiative catalogues these organizations, tracks their rising influence, and studies their activities and impact.

Recent Publications

news_rise-authoritarian-rios.jpg

The Rise of Authoritarian Regional International Organizations
Aug. 12, 2021 | IGCC Working Paper
The number and influence of regional international organizations (RIOs) with powerful authoritarian members is on the rise, helping stall democratization and preserve autocratic regimes. This working paper by Stephan Haggard and Christina Cottiero charts the growth of authoritarian RIOs since the end of World War II and analyzes their pathways for influence, including through election monitoring, peacekeeping, and development assistance.

Swearing in ceremony of President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad. Photo courtesy of Paul Kagame.

Not Free or Credible: Why Regional Election Observers Failed Chad and Benin
April 22, 2021 | Christina Cottiero
Welcoming election observation missions has become routine for governments organizing polls around the world. But political scientists and policy experts are increasingly raising concerns about whether and when election observers are actually free to write fair reports. A significant number of regional organizations’ post-election reports do not reflect the reality described by citizens and media coverage. Instead, they gloss over repressive tactics that incumbents use months or years ahead of elections to predetermine their outcomes.

Featured Experts