One of the most consistent findings in the study of world politics is the positive relationship between democratic regimes and international cooperation. Yet events in recent years suggest a more complicated picture. Several democracies have withered in their support for international organizations, while autocracies simultaneously have stepped up their commitments to cooperation. This project uses recent developments as a backdrop for launching a new research agenda on the relationship between regime type and international cooperation.

Guided by the over-arching question of why, how, and under what conditions regime type affects international cooperation, this project conducts a systematic and comprehensive analysis of this relationship. Theoretically, it develops a novel framework for identifying how regime type may have varying and conditional effects on international cooperation. Empirically, it examines this relationship over an extended time period and across a broad range of international cooperation, based on an extensive new data collection. Methodologically, it leverages a multi-method design, combining large-N statistical analysis, experimental analysis, and in-depth case analysis in a complementary fashion and with a comparative orientation. In addition, the project is policy relevant by generating insights on the resilience (or not) of international cooperation in an age of democratic decline.

Funded by the European Union (ERC, DEMCOOP, 101097437). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.