Although the research subjects of populism and autocratization studies are interconnected,
the full potential of combining their focuses—the dynamic elements of political systems
and institutional dimensions—into a comprehensive and systematic conceptual framework
remains underexploited. This study makes a stride in this direction by reviewing and
connecting these areas through the concepts of populist autocratization and populist
electoral autocracies. These concepts aim to deepen our understanding of the nature
of contemporary autocratization and the stability of autocracies. While the study
is primarily theoretical-conceptual in nature, it also engages with methodological
and operationalization considerations, and outlines a brief research agenda to demonstrate
the empirical applicability of the analytical framework and lays the foundation for
future research.
