Resistance to autocratization has gained prominence as a natural follow up to research on the nature, dynamics, and causes of autocratization. After focusing on how regimes shift toward authoritarianism, scholars are turning their attention to the mechanisms of resistance that can halt or reverse such processes. Recent research has uncovered the ways in which institutional factors—such as judicial independence or parliamentary oversight—, opposition movements, civil society, and international actors can limit or constrain autocratizing leaders. This work has made clear that autocratization is not necessarily linear or irreversible; some processes remain open-ended, others conclude with the defeat of autocratizing leaders.
This panel seeks to build on these insights asking the next question: In cases of successful resistance to autocratization, what happens next? What are the political, institutional, and social dynamics in the aftermath of the defeat of autocratizing leaders? How do democratic actors rebuild, restore trust in institutions, and navigate the legacy of an autocratizing regime once they return to power? The issue is particularly relevant and timely in the context of several contemporary post-autocratization cases, where opposition forces have managed to regain power such as Honduras, Poland, and Guatemala, where the democratic opposition coalitions defeated the authoritarian incumbents in 2022 and 2023; Bangladesh, where students used civil resistance and leveraged international pressure to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign in 2024; or Brazil and the United States where Bolsonaro and Trump’s attempts to reverse electoral outcomes has resulted in different responses from the judiciary.
With the goal to contribute to the growing body of literature on democratic resilience and regime transitions, this panel welcome papers on the following themes: How do post-autocratization domestic actors reconstruct democratic institutions, restore the rule of law, reduce polarization, and regain public trust? How can these transitions avoid a relapse into authoritarianism, and what are the potential pitfalls of democratization following autocratic rule? We invite scholars using diverse theoretical and methodological approaches, whether quantitative, qualitative, or comparative case studies. By examining the dynamics of post-autocratization, the panel will provide valuable insights into how democracies can recover from authoritarian threats and what challenges remain in ensuring the durability of democratic governance.