Written by Monika Nalepa (University of Chicago), this chapter explores the following questions:

– What is a regime?
– How can the degree of democracy be measured?
– How can democracy be sustained?
– What allows autocrats to stay in power?
– Why would former autocrats be interested in pacted transitions?
– What is a non-credible commitment?
– What accounts for gradual democratic erosion?
– What are the obstacles to relying on criminal prosecutions alone?
– What are the trade-offs associated with carrying out extensive purges?