Exporting autocrat’s playbook? Diverging impacts of China and Russia on contemporary democratic backsliding
Journal: Democratization
Year: 2024

The rise of illiberal powers, notably China and Russia, has stoked heated debates on their impact on democratic backsliding. However, the actual extent to which they undermine democratic governance in foreign countries remains contested. What roles do China and Russia play in contemporary backsliding? Under what conditions do they succeed or fail in spreading illiberal practices? China and Russia promote discrete illiberal practices in different places, but their efforts do not always succeed. W