Alexander Dukalskis

Dr Alexander Dukalskis

Small Group Project 2024-25

Spinning Dictatorship: Public Relations & Lobbying in Democracies by Authoritarian States

This project investigates authoritarian regimes hiring of public relations and lobbying firms (PRLF) in democracies. Previous research suggests that many autocrats draw on Western PRLFs to improve their image abroad and stifle criticism. Notable examples include “Tony Blair Associates,” employed to reshape Kazakh President Nazarbayev’s human rights narrative, and “Black, Manafort” which lobbied the US Congress for Zaire’s Mobutu and the Philippines’ Marcos. However, the chronic lack of data has impeded a systematic comprehension of how these firms operate in the democracies they seek to influence.

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Areas of interest

Authoritarianism Asian Politics Asia Politics Human Rights

Cohort

FG10

Biography

Alex Dukalskis is an Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin. He researches and teaches on authoritarian states, Asian politics, and international human rights.

He earned a dual Ph.D. in political science and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, a master's degree in human rights at the London School of Economics, and an undergraduate degree from Willamette University. His research interests grew out of hi prior professional work with the non-profit International Debate Education Association (IDEA). For several years Alexander worked in over 20 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa to teach debate and promote it among young people as a tool to improve critical thinking and advocacy.

Biographical details correct as of 14.02.25