This handbook comprehensively and systematically explores the current understanding, and unchartered research paths, of autocratization.

Aurel Croissant is Professor at the Institute of Political Science, Heidelberg University, Germany, and Visiting Professor at GSIS Ewha Womans University, South Korea.

Luca Tomini is FNRS Research Associate and Professor of Political Science at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium.

1. Introduction Part 1: Concepts, Approaches and Measurements 2. Rethinking Democratic Subversion 3. Conceptualizing autocratization 4. Measuring autocratization 5. Identifying episodes of autocratization Part 2: Structures and Institutions 6. Economic development and autocratization 7. Inequality and autocratization 8. Social classes and autocratization 9. Past legacies and autocratization 10. Polarization and autocratization 11. Ideological modules of autocratization 12. Elections and autocratization 13. Autocratization and the three faces of judicial power 14. Autocratization by legal means in weak presidential democracies 15. The Internet and autocratization 16. Subnational dimensions of autocratization 17. The international order and autocratization Part 3: Actors 18. International actors and autocratization 19. Parties, government leaders, and autocratization 20. Populism and autocratization 21. Religious actors and autocratization 22. Civil society and autocratization 23. Economic actors and autocratization 24. The Military and autocratization Part 4: Consequences and Impact 25. Autocratization and development 26. Administrative backsliding 27. Autocratization and health outcomes 28. Autocratization and gender politics 29. Autocratization and environmental performance 30. Autocratization and ethnic relations 31. Autocratization and political conflict Part 5: Regional Perspectives 32. Western Europe 33. Central and Eastern Europe 34. Western Balkans 35. Post-Soviet States 36. Latin America 37. Middle East and North Africa 38. Sub-Saharan Africa 39. East and Southeast Asia 40. South Asia