From autocrats to democrats: a comparative analysis of authoritarian successor parties and democratic acceptance in Spain, Panama, and Myanmar

Abstract

Political parties often emerge from authoritarian regimes that contend democratic elections following transitions to democracy. However, the behavior that these parties display in regard to democratic acceptance varies, ranging from working to reestablish authoritarian rule to accepting democracy and becoming important democratic actors. This study seeks to account for this variation in behavior by identifying the conditions under which these parties, known as authoritarian successor parties (ASPs), accept democracy. It conducts a comparative analysis using Mill’s Method of Agreement for two cases in which ASPs have accepted democracy and have become major democratic actors: the Alianza Popular/Partido Popular in Spain and the Partido Revolucionario Democrático in Panama. It then applies Mill’s Method of Difference to compare these results with the case of the Union Solidarity and Development Party in Myanmar, which has played a role in autocratization. The study finds that economic incentives for democracy, the level of support for democracy and relevance of domestic political actors (i.e. civil society, opposition parties, the military), and the level of international influence for democracy are determinant factors in ASP acceptance of democracy, while public support for democracy is not a determinant factor.