Focus: Investigates how illiberal governance models inspired by Russian practices diffuse to and are adapted by political actors across Europe.
Description: This project investigates the rise of autocratisation and bad governance in Europe by examining how illiberal leaders adopt and adapt governance models inspired by Russian practices. Designed to curtail political opposition and dissent while promoting corruption and rent-seeking, these models are increasingly emulated across diverse political contexts to consolidate processes of autocratisation. Illiberal strategies include weakening judicial independence, politicizing courts, restricting media freedom, and reshaping state institutions through the appointment of loyalists and cronies to key decision-making positions. Beyond serving as a model of autocratisation and bad governance, Russia actively supports governments, political parties, and other European domestic actors seeking to undermine liberal democratic norms and institutions. The project will analyse the transnational dynamics of illiberal learning, focusing on the interaction between domestic and international actors in the diffusion of authoritarian strategies and governance practices across Russia and Europe. It will also examine how these practices are adapted to specific political, economic, and societal contexts, thereby contributing to the theorization of the rise of illiberalism and bad governance in Europe.
Application details and procedures can be found here:
Doctoral Researcher (MSCA), Russia’s Role in Promoting Illiberal Governance Job Details | University of Helsinki