Participatory Governance and Authoritarian Political Control: Evidence from Electoral Authoritarian Mexico

• In Event: Political Regimes Dynamics

Abstract

Why would the same participatory institutions deepen democracy in some contexts but strengthen authoritarian control in others? In this study, I explain how variation in the configuration of participatory institutions explains these different political results. I argue that the rules governing the level of political inclusion and political contestation in participatory systems determine whether they promote local democracy or local authoritarian rule. To evaluate the impact of different participatory institutions on local political control, I examine three states in Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala) where state autocrats formally authorized the use of participatory institutions at the municipal or hamlet level for selecting these governments and taking policy decisions. Quantitative and qualitative evidence shows that systems states where participatory institutions restricted political rights and secret ballots (Oaxaca) helped strengthen subnational electoral authoritarian rulers (Oaxaca). Where participatory institutions restricted only political rights (Puebla) or only secret ballots (Tlaxcala), authoritarian leaders did not enjoy similar levels of political control.

Author

• Allyson L Benton, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE)