Subnational Democratization: Some Theoretical Questions

Abstract

This article examines the literature on democratization and the recent discussion on subnational democratization and raises a few theoretical questions regarding how to analyze subnational democratization. It discusses what subnational democratization is as a distinct process from national democratization and also raises the question of what subnational authoritarianism is. For this purpose, the article discusses the relationship between three central dimensions in the study of subnational democratization: national regime type, subnational regime type and the role of the national state. The article disaggregates the concept of subnational authoritarianism and proposes a new typology that consists of: subnational authoritarian practices, subnational authoritarian situations and subnational authoritarian regimes. It also raises the question of how to conceptualize a national regime that contains provinces/states that are less democratic or authoritarian.