Copy thy neighbor: Spatial interdependences in the democracy-repression nexus

How does spatial interdependence between countries affect domestic levels of repression? The current literature on state repression focuses on unit-level/common shocks explanations and treats countries' interdependence as a statistical nuisance. This article relaxes the null hypothesis of policy independence in state repression and examines the theoretical and empirical implications of spatial interdependence in the democracy-repression nexus. Combining spatial-econometric analysis with latent measures of democracy and repression in 138 countries between 1947 and 2007, the article shows that (1) there is a robust diffusion effect of repression at a regional level, (2) previous literature has overestimated the suppressing effect of democracy (when spatial interdependence is not accounted for), and (3) trade relations and security alliances are the main drivers of regional diffusion of repression.

Automated summary

This article examines the impact of spatial interdependence between countries on domestic levels of repression, finding a robust diffusion effect of repression at a regional level. It also highlights the overestimation of the suppressing effect of democracy in previous literature when spatial interdependence is not accounted for. Additionally, the study identifies trade relations and security alliances as the main drivers of regional diffusion of repression.