The Pitfalls of Transitology: Time for a Reassessment in the Light of African and Post-Soviet Cases

In spite of the redefinitions undertaken in the 2000’s, the theory of hybrid regimes still bears the imprint of the context in which it originally emerged: the democratisation processes of the 1990s. As a result, it is unable to make sense of the emerging countries’ integration into the global economy. The authoritarian regimes’ stability represents a theoretical challenge, yet to be resolved by many transitologists. The present article argues that the theoretical framework used by transition studies is both highly normative and western-oriented. The analysis is often based on a formal approach that aspires to define categories. Yet, the priority of international donor agencies has simultaneously moved from democratization towards political stability. The article suggest a reassessment of this theoretical grid through a discussion of African and post-soviet countries. The emphasis is put on the various processes of internal regulation in the political sphere and on legitimization processes within authoritarian States. This allows to reintroduce into the framework of analysis such concepts as State, institutions, the interplay between formal and informal processes, and the mix between political, social and economic dynamics.