Personnel Management, Institutional Engineering, and Coercion: Mechanisms of the Personalization of Executive Power

How has COVID-19 affected the personalization of executive power in South Korea? To answer this question, we draw on the conceptual framework of personalization outlined in the literature concerning democracies and autocracies.

This dashboard examines how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced executive personalization in 32 countries. Each bubble represents a country and its number of personalization events. Select one or two, then use the buttons to explore the events and their underlying mechanisms.

Evidence shows a growing trend of chief executives personalising power in autocracies and democracies. Yet, scholarly focus remains siloed according to regime type. This Working Paper presents an overarching framework on the “Personalisation of Executive Power,” identifying the involved mechanisms.

From Erosion to Breakdown? Navigating the Current Threats and Opportunities for Democracy, GIGA Hamburg, Hamburg Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Organiser), Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Organiser)

This workshop, co-hosted by the GIGA project „Democratic Institutions in the Global South” (DEMINGS) and GIGA’s Research Program „Accountability and Participation”, focused on the threats and opportunities that lie at the intersection of democratic resilience and decline

ECPR General Conference 2024, University College Dublin, Dublin Dr. Martin Acheampong (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Speaker), Dr. David Kuehn (Speaker), Emilia Arellano (Speaker)

Dr. Martin Acheampong presents the paper "The Hour of the Executive: Conceptualizing and Mapping the Personalization of Executive Power during the COVID-19 Pandemic" co-authored by him and GIGA researchers Emilia Arellano, Dr. David Kuehn, Prof. Dr Mariana Llanos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter.

Research Conference Pandemics: Preparedness for Future Pandemics from a Global Perspective, DFG, Bonn Organisers: German Research Foundation Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Speaker), Dr. David Kuehn (Speaker)

Organiser: Institute of Advanced National Studies (IAEN) Emilia Arellano (Speaker)

In collaboration with esteemed professors and legal scholars, we delved into the project "COVID-19 and executive personalisation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa region".

APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2024, Philadelphia Organisers: American Political Science Association Emilia Arellano (Speaker)

Emilia Arellano presents the paper "The Hour of the Executive: Conceptualizing and Mapping the Personalization of Executive Power during the COVID-19 Pandemic" co-authored by her and GIGA researchers Dr. Martin Acheampong, Dr. David Kuehn, Prof. Dr Mariana Llanos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter.

ECPR General Conference 2024, University College Dublin, Dublin Dr. Martin Acheampong (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Speaker), Dr. David Kuehn (Speaker), Emilia Arellano (Speaker)

GIGA researchers Dr. Martin Acheampong, Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter, Dr. David Kuehn, and Emilia Arellano present their paper "Executive Personalization and Constraints Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic" at the ECPR General Conference 2025. The presentation is part of the panel "Presidential Leadership in Crisis: Comparative Institutional Approaches to Defense and Security Threats and Policies, Geopolitical Challenges, and Strategic Competition".

Annual MPSA Conference 2025, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago Organisers: Midwest Political Science Association Emilia Arellano (Speaker), Dr. Martin Acheampong (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos (Speaker), Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Speaker), Dr. David Kuehn (Speaker)

Emilia Arellano presents the paper "Thriving or Thwarted? Executive Personalization and Constraints amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic" co-authored by her and GIGA researchers Dr. Martin Acheampong, Dr. David Kuehn, Prof. Dr Mariana Llanos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter.

ECPR General Conference 2023, Charles University, Prague Organisers: European Consortium for Political Research Dr. Martin Acheampong (Speaker)

Dr. Martin Acheampong presents his paper "Personnel, Institutions, and Power: Revisiting the Concept of Political Personalization" (co-authored with Dr. David Kühn, Prof. Dr. Mariana Llanos, Dr. Thomas Richter and Dr. Esther Song) at the ECPR General Conference 2023 in Prague. Panel: "Personalisation and regime legitimacy in autocracies".

The COVID-19 pandemic is revealing its severe implications not just for health systems worldwide. One striking political consequence has been renewed power concentration in the executive. There are signs of a global increase in this executive personalisation having occurred over the last 12 months.

How has COVID-19 affected the personalization of executive power in South Korea? To answer this question, we draw on the conceptual framework of personalization outlined in the literature concerning democracies and autocracies.

This dashboard examines how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced executive personalization in 32 countries. Each bubble represents a country and its number of personalization events. Select one or two, then use the buttons to explore the events and their underlying mechanisms.

Evidence shows a growing trend of chief executives personalising power in autocracies and democracies. Yet, scholarly focus remains siloed according to regime type. This Working Paper presents an overarching framework on the “Personalisation of Executive Power,” identifying the involved mechanisms.