Replication Data for: International Contributions to Nicaraguan Democracy: The Role of Foreign Municipal Donations for Social Development

As the study of new democracies has advanced, scholarly attention has directed itself to the role of subnational government in dvancing democracy. Scholars are divided over whether or not subnational politics enhances democracy. This article enters that debate by examining the role of foreign donations directly into Nicaragua’s municipalities. Drawing on an extensive data base of direct foreign donations and electoral returns in municipalities, the article argues that subnational government can enhance democratization and also development so long as subnational leaders have a considerable degree of autonomy. The article considers what conditions provide that level of autonomy. On the other hand, subnational government is also embedded within a national political context such that democratic backsliding at the national level can undermine the local democratization process and also cause a decline in foreign direct donations and development.随着新兴民主政体研究的持续深化，学界的研究重心逐渐转向次国家政府（subnational government）在民主发展进程中的作用。针对次国家政治是否能够强化民主这一议题，学者们存在显著意见分歧。本文通过剖析直接流入尼加拉瓜各市政单位的境外捐赠所发挥的作用，加入这场学术辩论。本文依托涵盖各市政单位境外直接捐赠与选举结果的大型数据库，提出核心论点：只要次国家政府领导者拥有相当程度的自主权，次国家政府即可同时推动民主化建设与地方发展。本文还探讨了能够赋予次国家政府此类自主权的各项条件。另一方面，次国家政府同样内嵌于国家政治语境之中，因此国家级层面的民主倒退不仅会破坏地方民主化进程，还会导致境外直接捐赠规模缩减与地方发展放缓。