For more than a decade, the former optimism regarding the global spread of liberal democracy has been over. After having observed the third wave of democratisation in the 1990s, today we are rather witnessing a third wave of autocratisation. This raises the question of whether the established theoretical and political discourse on Non-Western democracies is only a codified way of talking about diminished subtypes of democracy. Moreover, there is the danger that new forms of despotism are hidden behind Non-Western notions of democracy, while the analytical concept of democracy is diluted. On the other hand, it is still possible that there are genuine or even unique democratic qualities in Non-Western societies that should be recognised. Moreover, it has become clear that the concept of (Western) democracy as well as the worldwide promotion of ‘democratic’ institutions and virtues are falling under suspicion of being merely a part of hegemonic strategies. Therefore, international and global processes of democratisation are no longer assessed as simple assimilation to patterns of democracy that originated in the Western world but rather as authentic emergence of autochthonous forms of democracy.

In this vein, this Research Topic sheds light on the concepts, qualities and practices as well as the chances and risks of Non-Western democracies. This approach enables interactions between (application-oriented) theoretical considerations and (theory-based) comparative analyses or case studies including the potential to reveal both differences as well as similarities between Western and Non-Western democratic regimes. Proceeding from this, the issue focuses on five major areas of research on Non-Western democracies (including their relationship to Western counterparts):

– Case studies on Non-Western democracies
– Historical, theoretical and cultural influences on Non-Western democracies
– Problem-solving capacities of Non-Western democracies
– Inclusion of Non-Western democracy concepts and practices in political theory (e.g. from comparative democratic theory or the decolonisation of political theory)
– (Re-)Evaluation of theoretical concepts and the established methods of measuring democracy (e.g. V-Dem, BTI, Freedom House, Vanhanen-Index).

Accordingly, this Research Topic will contribute to the growing academic and political debate on the explanatory power and legitimacy of Non-Western theories and practices of democracy. Hence, it aims to deepen the understanding of the theoretical and empirical complexity of Non-Western democracies, to integrate Non-Western ideas into relevant discussions on democratic theory, and to sharpen the analytical distinction between Non-Western and Western democracies. Consequently, it will contribute to the understanding of current democratic development as such.

Original research, hypotheses and theory, conceptual analyses, data reports or new perspectives in all these five areas are welcome.

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Frontiers in Political Science

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