A University of Liverpool politics expert has contributed to the launch of a major new international policy brief series examining the global rise of authoritarianism and its implications for democratic governance.
The Authoritarian Eco-System series is jointly published by the Political Studies Association Specialist Group on Autocracy and Regime Change and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. It brings together leading academics and practitioners working on authoritarian regimes, democratic resilience, and global governance.
The collection was officially launched at an event on 11 May 2026 hosted by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which focused on understanding the authoritarian ‘ecosystem’ and the ways contemporary autocracies sustain and extend their influence internationally.
The series explores how authoritarian rule is maintained not only through executive power, but also through interconnected institutions, actors, incentives, and norms. The briefs examine themes including authoritarian legislatures, judicial capture, dominant parties, corruption, propaganda, regional organisations, global governance, foreign aid, and opposition strategies.
Dr Felix Wiebrecht from the Department of Politics, who convenes the Autocracy and Regime Change Specialist Group said: “Authoritarian regimes are increasingly shaping international politics, public opinion, and culture, making it more urgent to understand how authoritarian systems operate and how democratic actors can respond.
“The collection aims to make current academic research on authoritarianism accessible to policymakers, civil society organisations, and international institutions by combining evidence-based analysis with practical policy recommendations.”
Other contributors to the series include Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, York, Stanford, Stockholm, King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London, Goldsmiths, Transparency International, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The full policy brief collection is available via Westminster Foundation for Democracy – Authoritarian Ecosystem Resources.
Photo: Members of the Specialist Group on Autocracy and Regime Change (inc Dr Wiebrecht, R) being presented a Political Studies Association award earlier this year.