Introducing authoritarian diasporas: causes and consequences of authoritarian elite dispersion

Scholarship on democratization has made significant progress in theorizing the trajectories of former authoritarian elites, with considerable attention given to successor parties particular. However, literature largely failed contend cases which cohort officials scatters widely across political system. We identify these patterns dispersion as diasporas and investigate their potential causes consequences. In launching a new research agenda this understudied phenomenon, we review not only contending for elite defection from ruling parties, but also various options reincarnation (e.g. party creation, colonization existing independent candidacies). hypothesize that initial decision defect is contingent upon number intervening regime- individual-level variables. The destinations incumbents are shaped by regime legacies, personal resources, institutional rules. conclude reflecting ways likely be more harmful democracy than continued presence an party.