GVPT Associate Professor Calvert W. Jones Co-Authors New Study on Ambivalent Regime Attitudes
Department of Government & Politics (GVPT) Associate Professor Calvert W. Jones, together with recent GVPT doctoral graduate Michael Cowan, has co-authored a new article, “Pro‑Democratic, but Not Anti‑Authoritarian? Understanding Ambivalent Attitudes Toward Regimes”.
The study looks at how people feel about different types of government, and the results are surprising. While many people say they support democracy, a large number also express support for strong leaders who aren’t bound by parliaments or elections. In other words, people can be both pro-democracy and pro-authoritarian at the same time.
Using surveys from dozens of countries over several years, Jones and Cowan found that this kind of “mixed” or ambivalent attitude is becoming more common. Nearly half of the respondents in one dataset fell into this group, while clear-cut support for democracy without any authoritarian leanings has been declining. Ambivalence is less common in Europe and the U.S.. However, it remains prevalent, and it’s more likely among people with less political knowledge or those who value order and authority over personal freedom.
The authors also found that when people are given clear explanations of what democracy and authoritarianism mean, they’re more likely to show consistent support for democracy, suggesting that knowledge and understanding can influence these attitudes.
This research challenges the idea that people’s views of government are simple. It also encourages scholars and policymakers to consider the nuanced ways people evaluate governance and to design interventions that strengthen democratic understanding and commitment.
Jones, C. W., & Cowan, M. (2025). Pro-Democratic, but Not Anti-Authoritarian? Understanding Ambivalent Attitudes Toward Regimes. Comparative Political Studies, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140251369320
Published on Mon, 11/17/2025 - 11:56