Promoting democracy – promoting autocracy? International politics and national political regimes

Has the last tide of democratization been replaced by a new wave of democratic reversal? Do two decades of international democracy promotion now have to compete with the promotion of authoritarian rule by powers that have resisted democratization internally? Are there more pressing grounds than ever to investigate international political influences on the prospects not just for transition to and consolidation of democracy but the persistence, resurgence and spread of more authoritarian regimes? These are among the big issues raised in this introduction to the special issue. It does not pretend to provide definitive responses, but rather makes a start on how to look for some answers. The introduction spells out an agenda that should take a central place in future research into the influence of international politics on national political regimes. It gives a window onto how the multinational contributions in this issue add to our knowledge and take that agenda further forwards.