International Forum for Democratic Studies Research Council Member

Lucan A. Way

University of Toronto

Lucan Way is associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on democratic transitions and the evolution of authoritarian rule in the former Soviet Union and in cross-regional perspective. His book Pluralism by Default: Weak Autocrats and the Rise of Competitive Politics is forthcoming with Johns Hopkins University Press. He is also known for his work on hybrid or competitive authoritarian rule.  His book Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War, co-written with Steven Levitsky, was published in 2010 by Cambridge University Press. 

Professor Way is working on a new book with Steve Levitsky, The Durability of Revolutionary Regimes that examines the ways in which origins in violent revolutionary struggles foster resilient authoritarianism.  He has published articles in Comparative Politics, European Journal of Political Research, Journal of Democracy, Perspectives on Politics, Politics and Society, Slavic Review, Studies in Comparative and International Development, World Politics, as well as in a number of area studies journals and edited volumes.  Professor Way is on the Editorial Board of Journal of Democracy.

---

Forum News

“Journal of Democracy Classics: ‘The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism'” (Jan. 15, 2015)

Forum Events

“Is Democracy in Decline? Celebrating 25 Years of the Journal of Democracy,” Hotel Monaco (Jan. 29, 2015)

“Ukraine: The Maidan and Beyond,” International Forum for Democratic Studies (July 14, 2014)

“Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War,” International Forum for Democratic Studies (Sept. 24, 2010)

Forum Publications

“The Myth of the Democratic Recession,” coauthored with Steven Levitsky, Journal of Democracy (Jan. 2015)

“External Influence and Democratization: Structure vs. Choice,” coauthored with Steven Levitsky, Journal of Democracy (Oct. 2014)

“The Maidan and Beyond: Civil Society and Democratization,” Journal of Democracy (Jul. 2013)

“The Durability of Revolutionary Regimes,” co-authored with Steven Levitsky, Journal of Democracy (Jul. 2013)

“Comparing the Arab Revolts: The Lessons of 1989,” Journal of Democracy (Oct. 2011)

“Why Democracy Needs a Level Playing Field,” co-authored with Steven Levitsky, Journal of Democracy (Jan. 2010)

“The Real Causes of the Color Revolution,” Journal of Democracy (Jul. 2008)