Book
Published:
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
Written by
Alexander Cooley
Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University
Alexander Dukalskis
Associate Professor, University College Dublin
Ed.
Summary:
This book examines how authoritarian states have repurposed tools, norms, and actors previously used to promote Western-backed liberalism, now turning them against liberal ideas. After the Cold War, democratization appeared to signal the decline of authoritarianism, but recent developments show a significant shift. The authors introduce the concept of “authoritarian snapback,” in which non-democratic states curb the spread of liberal ideas domestically while promoting anti-liberal norms globally. Drawing on case studies, purpose-built databases, and interviews, the book demonstrates how authoritarian states challenge liberal influence through media agreements, consumer boycotts, sports investments, university programs, and restrictions on foreign journalists, among other methods. It offers a fresh perspective on the shifting global political landscape and the limits of liberal influence.
- Published year: 2025
- Full version: Read here
- Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc
- Page count: 312
- Language: English
Written by
Alexander Cooley
Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University
Alexander Dukalskis
Associate Professor, University College Dublin