New publication with @tsommerer.bsky.social looking at changes of IO membership composition as a consequence of autocratization.

Are non-democracies taking over?

Available open access here:

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Terrorism-that’s how many autocracies frame dissent.
In my new article with @stephengfhall.bsky.social in @cspjournal.bsky.social, we trace how 5 autocratic clubs have built Interpol-style security structures to help regimes learn ‘worst practices.’ Open access: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Actually, Sean was my thesis supervisor, and a wonderful inspiration 🙃

Authoritarian regimes use regional organizations to suppress dissent and bolster their power as @debremaria.bsky.social shows in her new book "The Dictators' Club". As autocrats coordinate across borders, democratic actors must do the same, she writes.

www.democracywithoutborders.org/37302/

Thrilled that our piece 'Hollow Multilateralism' is out in the latest issue of @iajournal.bsky.social! Co-authored with @danielleflonk.bsky.social, we show how autocracies use liberal language to hollow out norms in internet governance and sideline critical non-state actors.

Come join us this morning to discuss the state of the world with Muhammet Bas, @debremaria.bsky.social , @catherinedevries.bsky.social , @andduer.bsky.social and myself.

🌍🇪🇺 🌍🇪🇺 🌍🇪🇺 🌍🇪🇺 🌍🇪🇺

It was such a pleasure having you at the workshop Rachel!! Thanks for engaging with all our work - hope we will meet again soon!

It was a pleasure meeting you and having you at our workshop in Oslo! Hope to have many more of these productive engagements soon Suparna!

Join us for an exciting public opening event if the workshop “Autocracies as International Lawmakers” at the Norwegian Nobel Institute Oslo on June 2. More info below 👇

Many people have helped to get this book published – @ninareiners.bsky.social, @hdijkstra.bsky.social, @tsommerer.bsky.social, @danielleflonk.bsky.social, @jonastallberg.bsky.social, Tanja Börzel just to name a few! Thank you all – I am immensely grateful and happy to finally see this published!

In The Dictators’ Club, I argue that instead of acting as democracy promoters, many ROs have become enablers of authoritarian rule—providing protection, resources, and legitimacy to embattled regimes.

The introduction is freely available at the link below.
academic.oup.com/book/59549/c...

The Dictators’ Club: How Regional Organizations Sustain Authoritarian Rule (OUP) is out now! 📚

We live in an age of rising authoritarianism. Many assume that regional organizations (ROs) are key to help protect democracy and human rights - but what if they do the opposite?

The power of the state to control online content, restrict dissent, and shape narratives is a key battleground during autocratization processes. In the next three years, we investigate how ROs spread practices, narratives and policies on digital sovereignty among their members – and beyond.

Democracies don’t just collapse—they learn autocracy. Our new project investigates how hybrid regional organizations — organizations where democracies and autocracies coexist — become training grounds for digital authoritarianism.

I am thrilled to receive a grant on the role of #RegionalOrganizations and the spread of #digitalsovereignty practices in the Global South from the Thyssen Stiftung together with @danielleflonk.bsky.social. Stay tuned for insights on how, where, and why #digitalauthoritarianism travels.

Neue Ausgabe der @apuz.bsky.social zu #Sanktionen mit tollen Beiträgen, vom Sanktionsregimen gegen Russland bis zur deutschen Sozialstaatsdebatte. Ich durfte einen Beitrag zu Sanktionen in der internationalen Politik beisteuern. Schaut rein! 👇
www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschriften/apuz/sanktionen-2025/

Exactly one year since the publication of "Are international organisations in *decline*? An absolute and relative perspective on institutional change" in Global Policy with @debremaria.bsky.social for our NestIOr project