Electoralism

Electoralism is a term first used by Terry Karl, professor of political science at Stanford University, to describe a "half-way" transition from authoritarian rule toward democratic rule.

As a topic in the dominant party system political science literature, electoralism describes a situation in which the transition out of hard-authoritarian rule is initiated and managed by the incumbent regime. However, the dominant position of the incumbent regime throughout the transition process prevents the transition from attaining the institutional qualities of liberal democracy. Other terms, such as guided transition or managed transition have been used to describe this process.