Lexington Books Electoral Strategies under Authoritarianism: Evidence from the Former Soviet Union (Russian, Eurasian, and Eastern European Politics)

Product Description This book explores the types of electoral strategies used in non-democratic countries. It focuses on manipulation by the government as well as efforts to push back against the regime by opposition forces. Relying on data and case studies from the former Soviet Union, it finds that these actors view elections as tools to achieve various goals either in the short-term or the long term. More specifically, parties and candidates will sometimes engage in self-defeating or unnecessary behavior in the short-term if they think it will serve a long term purpose. This book examines different ways that governments seek to sway the election to their favor, as well as under what conditions opposition actors may unite or boycott the election altogether. The conclusions of this book reveal that elections even in authoritarian settings matter for political decision making, but that they may not be serving democratic functions. Review Megan Hauser. . . adds to this literature with a well-constructed and informative book on electoral strategies used by both regimes and oppositions across the post-Soviet space over the last three decades. Making a welcome addition both theoretically and empirically, Hauser expands our knowledge of authoritarian electoral politics in a way that provides rich regional detail while keeping an eye to broader, structural patterns that may travel far beyond the post-Soviet space. . . . Hauser has produced a relevant work that will be useful to both scholars of the region as well as those studying electoral behaviour in authoritarianism generally. In particular, those researchers looking to better understand opposition struggles to unite or, more frustratingly, refuse to participate in electoral activity should read this book.--Europe-Asia Studies Incisive and compelling, Hauser's theory of electoral strategy in semi-authoritarian regimes establishes and interprets the interconnection between incumbent and opposition behaviors. Focusing on the post-Soviet space, this sophisticated and insightful work unravels persistent paradoxes of electoral authoritarianism today. Hauser gives meaning to seemingly counterintuitive political strategies that distort and subvert liberal democracy. This book moves beyond the transition paradigm to take a fresh view of the logic of elections in semi-authoritarian states. In identifying informational and instrumental forms of manipulation, Hauser provides useful recommendations for the democracy promotion community.--Gabrielle Bardall, International Foundation for Electoral Systems Electoral Strategies under Authoritarianism makes valuable contributions to the growing research on authoritarian regimes. Hauser, through her well-developed theory and mixed methods approach, provides a detailed explanation of when and why government incumbents choose specific strategies of electoral manipulation, expanding our understanding of the nature of authoritarian elections. The cross-case examination of multiple post-Soviet offers new and sometimes surprising insights about the electoral strategies of both incumbents and opposition political parties. Any scholar interested in authoritarian elections or the politics of post-Soviet states should read this book.--Rachel Vanderhill, Wofford College About the Author Megan Hauser is lecturer at the University of North Georgia.