Local Government in Authoritarian and Backsliding Regimes

Abstract

Local government, defined as any elected formal subnational institution with some degree of fiscal or administrative autonomy from the center (Hankla and Manning 2017), is often overlooked in the study of authoritarian institutions. In this chapter I provide an overview of a small but growing body of work to argue that local government is an important arena of contestation in authoritarian and backsliding regimes that warrants greater attention. I show that, far from being simply a tool of authoritarian rule, local government is a persistent source of uncertainty for incumbents which must be managed. I draw on evidence from thirty authoritarian and backsliding regimes to propose a strategic toolkit at the local level, conceptualizing the strategies incumbents use to manage this uncertainty and what oppositions can do to capitalize on it. By synthesizing and building on existing scholarship, I contribute a new conceptual framework for understanding local politics. I conclude by pointing to directions for future research.