Do associations support authoritarian rule? Evidence from Algeria, Mozambique, and Vietnam

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12891007
AutoresJörg Wischermann (0000-0003-2487-336X, German Institute for Global and Area Studies), Bettina Bunk (German Institute for Global and Area Studies), Patrick Köllner (0000-0001-6838-7609, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, autor correspondente), Jasmin Lorch (0000-0002-9484-8701, German Institute for Global and Area Studies)
Ano2018
Volume14
Fascículo2
Páginas95-115
Data de publicação2018-04-03
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Civil Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1744-8689 • E-ISSN: 1744-8697
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17448689.2018.1464707
OpenAlexW2806913719
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas25
Referências citadas22

Whether associations help to democratize authoritarian rule or support those in power is a contested issue that so far lacks a cross-regional, comparative perspective. In this article we focus on five types of associations in three post-socialist countries, situated in different world regions, that are governed by authoritarian regimes. We first explore how infrastructural and discursive state power impact such associations and vice versa. We then discuss whether these associations support the development of citizens’ collective and individual self-determination and autonomy and/or whether they negate such self-determination and autonomy – a state of affairs that is at the core of authoritarianism.Our analysis addresses decision-making in associations and three specific policy areas. We find that most of the covered associations accept or do not openly reject state/ruling party interference in their internal decision-making processes. Moreover, in most of these associations the self-determination and autonomy of members are restricted, if not negated. With respect to HIV/AIDS policy, associations in Algeria and Vietnam toe the official line, and thus contribute, unlike their counterparts in Mozambique, to negating the self-determination and autonomy of affected people and other social minorities. Looking at enterprise promotion policy, we find that the co-optation of business and professionals’ associations in all three countries effectively limits democratizing impulses. Finally, in all three countries many, but not all, of the interviewed associations support state-propagated norms concerning gender and gender relationships, thus contributing to limiting the self-determination and autonomy of women in the private sphere

Authoritarianism · Autonomy · Democracy · Development economics · Economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Situated · Sociology · State (computer science · Corruption and Economic Development · International Development and Aid · Law · Political Conflict and Governance