Linkages between Domestic Society and Foreign Policy in Personalistic Autocracies
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17831772 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sabine Mokry (0000-0002-3610-9775, Universität Hamburg, corresponding author), Sean Yom (0000-0002-2369-2156, Temple College), Alexander Graef (0000-0001-7547-9245, Universität Hamburg) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Global Studies Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2634-3797 • E-ISSN: 2634-3797 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/isagsq/ksag071 |
| OpenAlex | W7155213193 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 7 |
This Special Forum addresses an important gap in the literature on authoritarian foreign policy by examining how domestic societal forces influence foreign policymaking in personalist autocracies. The contributions integrate insights from Foreign Policy Analysis and Comparative Authoritarianism to broaden the study of authoritarian foreign policy beyond conflict, highlighting the procedural and discursive dimensions of decision-making. Empirically, the Forum comprises six qualitative case studies—Russia, China, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Senegal—spanning five world regions. The cases reveal how diverse societal actors, from experts and private firms to urban publics and populist movements, influence foreign policy agendas, legitimacy strategies, and doctrinal shifts. Collectively, they demonstrate that societal input, while often constrained and mediated, can shape both the content and style of foreign policy in authoritarian settings. The Forum contributes to theory-building by identifying the mechanisms and conditions under which such influence occurs, showing how domestic legitimacy concerns, informal governance, and personalist legitimation strategies open pathways for societal relevance. By moving beyond the study of war and incorporating a broader range of outcomes and actors, this Forum offers a novel framework for understanding foreign policy in personalist autocracies
Authoritarianism · Foreign policy · Foreign policy analysis · Legitimacy · Legitimation · Qualitative comparative analysis · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Socioeconomic Development in MENA
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |