Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive
International Organizations and Democratic Backsliding: Evidence from IMF Programs and EU Membership
Date
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Political Science
Committee Chair
Dursun Peksen
Committee Member
Matthias Kaelberer
Committee Member
Nicole Detraz
Abstract
Abstract This thesis examines how international organizations influence democratic changes. It specifically studies whether participation in programs from IMF is associated with changes in liberal democracy and whether membership in EU can constrain democratic decline. The thesis uses a mixed-method design that combines cross-national statistical analysis with comparative case studies of Hungary and Romania. The statistical results show a negative association between cumulative IMF program participation and short-term changes in liberal democracy. The case studies show that EU membership creates legal and institutional constraints on democratic erosion.
Library Comment
Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.
Notes
Embargoed until 2027-04-03
Recommended Citation
Akter, Farjana, "International Organizations and Democratic Backsliding: Evidence from IMF Programs and EU Membership" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive. 3994.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3994
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Comments
Data is provided by the student.