What's driving the democratic recession in Asia?

This article examines the causes of autocratization in Asia by integrating domestic and international perspectives, moving beyond the traditional dichotomy that treats these drivers separately. It identifies autocratic strongmen's executive aggrandizement or promissory coups as primary domestic drivers, while highlighting the role of autocratic powers—particularly China—in consolidating autocratization through economic, military, and diplomatic support. A comparative analysis of Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand illustrates how domestic autocratization efforts are reinforced by China's strategic interests amid great power competition. The study calls for further research using larger and more diverse samples to better understand the interplay of domestic and international factors across different geopolitical contexts and types of autocratization.