Elite Change without Regime Change: Authoritarian Persistence in Africa and the End of the Cold War

Because the end of Cold War failed to produce widespread democratic transitions, it is often viewed as having had only a superficial effect on Africa’s authoritarian regimes. We show this sentiment be incorrect. Focusing elite coalitions undergirding autocracies, we argue that sparked profound changes in constellation alliances within It was an international event whose ripple effects altered domestic political landscape and thereby enticed transform meet new existential threat they faced. demonstrate our argument using cabinets proxy for coalitions, showing their composition drastically changed at War. leaders dismissed many core members increasingly appointed opposition parties cabinet portfolios. Such changes, argue, represent dynamic responses enabled autocracies persist.