Governance and Artificial Intelligence in Comparative Perspective: Between Innovation, Control, and Resistance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly shifted from a purely technological domain into a political and governance frontier. States across the globe are adopting AI tools for policymaking, public service delivery, and national security, while others are resisting or cautiously regulating its spread. This paper interrogates the comparative trajectories of AI governance, focusing on three dimensions: adoption, regulation, and resistance. Drawing on case studies from liberal democracies (such as the European Union), resilient authoritarian regimes (such as China), and hybrid systems (including selected African states), the analysis highlights how political regimes shape the integration of AI into governance processes. While democracies emphasize ethical frameworks and accountability, authoritarian states deploy AI primarily for surveillance, control, and regime stability. Hybrid regimes, often constrained by weak institutions and limited resources, oscillate between external pressures for responsible AI governance and domestic imperatives of regime survival. The study contributes to the growing field of digital governance by situating AI within broader debates on state capacity, legitimacy, and global inequality. It concludes with policy recommendations for balancing innovation with accountability, particularly for states in the Global South navigating the dual pressures of technological advancement and democratic governance.