The Global Rise of Autocracy

"This rich and wide-ranging collection of essays addresses one of the critical issues of our time: the rise in autocracies across the globe and its implications for the sustainability of democracy, environmental protection, and human rights. The collection makes clear the urgent need for international collaboration to counter the growing threat posed by autocracies and associated tendencies."

Richard Caplan, Oxford University, UK

“We live in an age of anxiety, with fears growing that free societies are under attack from authoritarians within and beyond their frontiers. This book, with its wide ranging and well-researched contributions, looks at the interaction between the functioning of democracy and the difficulties facing decision-makers trying to meet commitments undertaken to ensure a sustainable future for us all. This original approach extends the consideration of threats to democracy to wider, equally urgent concerns about our common future. These deserve the attention of citizens, policy makers and analysts.”

Geoffrey Harris, European Parliament official 1976-2016

"The world is currently grappling with two major crises: climate change, which poses a severe threat to global sustainability, and the rise of autocratic regimes in formerly democratic countries, which undermines global governance. Although these issues might appear unrelated, this essential reading for students of political science, public policy, and climate change persuasively argues that democratic backsliding significantly threatens environmental sustainability. For those committed to combating rising temperatures and saving the planet, ensuring the strength and resilience of democracies worldwide may be a crucial first step."

Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz, University of Maryland College Park, USA