ABSTRACT
In response to the first question, we argue that illiberal regional powers are only likely to respond to Western efforts at democracy promotion in third countries if they perceive challenges to their geostrategic interests in the region or to the survival of their regime. We also suggest that non-democratic regional powers are unlikely to intentionally promote autocracy even though “autocracy strengthening” might be the consequence of their behaviour.16 In some cases, illiberal regimes even promote democracy if it suits their geostrategic interests.17
