First survive, then thrive: major urban centres and resistance against autocratisation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article highlights the critical yet overlooked role of subnational entities, particularly cities, in autocratisation processes. While research often emphasizes national factors, cities can act as democratic enclaves resisting autocratisation or, alternatively, facilitate authoritarian trends. The article addresses three key questions: (1) What explains democratic enclaves in cities during autocratisation? (2) How do these enclaves resist national autocratisation? (3) What is their democratic potential? Using case studies from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the contributions explore how cities serve as arenas of resistance or tools for autocratisation, shaped by local actors and institutions. This special issue advances understanding of multi-level governance and democratic enclaves, offering practical insights for countering autocratisation. It argues that supporting local democratic actors, fostering alliances, and limiting central government interference are essential strategies to strengthen cities' roles in resisting autocratisation.
Source: Contemporary Politics
Authors: Luca Tomini, Giulia Sandri, Adam Szymański
Institutions: Université Libre de Bruxelles, University of Warsaw
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4407167945