Roundtable: Democratic Regression in Security Governance in Developing Countries

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Sessions

Abstract/Description

This roundtable examines the intersection of criminology, legal authority, and the democratic ideal in the context of increasing authoritarianism in developing countries. Participants will explore how regimes leverage security governance—through counterterrorism legislation, emergency decrees, and expanded policing powers—to erode democratic institutions. Drawing on case studies from the Turkey and Middle East, the discussion will highlight how state actors utilize the rhetoric of security to justify the restriction of civil liberties, the suppression of dissent, and the weakening of judicial and legislative oversight. Special attention will be given to the disproportionate impact on marginalized populations, including ethnic and religious minorities, political dissidents, and civil society actors. By tracing patterns of securitized governance and democratic backsliding, the roundtable seeks to identify pathways for resisting illiberal trends and reinvigorating accountability, transparency, and participatory governance in security policymaking. The session invites critical dialogue on embedding human rights principles within security frameworks and the role of criminologists in safeguarding democratic norms.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Individual Presentations

• Militarization of Policing and Its Impact on Democratic Policing Principles - Ekrem Mus, Sacred Heart University; Halil Bilecen, Independent Researcher

• Authoritarian Resurgence and the Erosion of Civil Liberties in the Name of Security - Tuncay Unal, Independent Researcher

• The Role of Security Bureaucracies in Democratic Backsliding - Mutlu Koseli, Chicago State University; Ali Ozdogan, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

• Human Rights Violations under Emergency Powers: Trends and Legal Responses - Ekrem Mus, Sacred Heart University; Halil Bilecen, Independent Researcher