2 - Anarchy and Polyarchy

Summary

In this chapter, we take stock of how scholars of international relations and of elections have previously studied the issues we are interested in. Even if the most dramatic manifestations of outside influence, coups and invasions, are (largely) a thing of the past, without a doubt sustained investments by multiple powers in more (or less) competitive political processes impact polyarchy in a substantial and sustained way. Outsiders can help candidates directly, raising the question of how the who and how of elections figure in the calculus of interventions. Why such investments are made, and their effects, are important subjects to study.We agree with existing works that interest in democracy promotion depends on how many other democracies there are, and on competing geo-strategic objectives. Our contribution is a specific focus on elections, an emphasis on different types of interventions, for the rules, and for candidates, and strategic logic of intervention where opposing sides can battle for influence. We bring together anarchy, the international system, and polyarchy, the domestic fight for power, in a single framework.