#Apologies for cross-posting.# _Open panel:_//*Electoral Competitiveness in Non-Democratic Regimes* at the 28th National Convention of the German Political Science Association (GPSA) (digital event), 14-16 Sept 2021*.* _Panel chairs_: Jaroslav Bílek (University of Hradec Králové), Kristin Eichhorn (Chemnitz university of Technology)** **** _Panel description:_ The conduct of multi-party elections has become standard across non-democratic regimes after the Cold War. However, the conceptualization of competitiveness through contestation, which is standard for democratic regimes, does not travel well across regime boundaries. In non-democratic regimes, incumbents and dominant parties have a menu of manipulation on their disposal in order to turn the odds in their favor. The results are by and large uncontested elections despite multi-party competition. The objective of the panel is to make progress in the conceptualization and effects of competitiveness in non-democratic regimes. We welcome empirical and theoretical papers that raise (but are not limited to) questions such as: * In which way is competitiveness linked to/differentiated from related concepts (e.g. electoral integrity, malpractice, repression)? * How do different forms of repression and manipulation affect electoral competitiveness? * Is electoral fraud resulting from precious contestation or determining future contestation? * How can we map out and compare the uneven playing field? In which way are socio-economic factors, institutional factors and legacies linked to electoral competitiveness? * How is electoral competitiveness linked to electoral choice or participation? * Is electoral competitiveness affected by the timing of the elections? * How do opposition gains in sub-national elections influence electoral competitiveness in national elections? _ _ Please submit your paper proposals (abstracts with *max. 250 words*) by *28 February 2021* via the DVPW website and choose *P130*: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__f3IvVJUMDJDNEowR0ZKMElMVVFVUDVYMUU5MEZaUy4u <https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__f3IvVJUMDJDNEowR0ZKMElMVVFVUDVYMUU5MEZaUy4u> Please don't hesitate to contact us directly in case of questions concerning the panel! -- Kristin Eichhorn Professur Politische Systeme Philosophische Fakultät Technische Universität Chemnitz Thüringer Weg 9 | R. 2/TW9/216 (neu: C34.216) 09126 Chemnitz Germany Tel: +49 371 531-30214 Fax: +49 371 531-830214 kristin.eichhorn@phil.tu-chemnitz.de www.tu-chemnitz.de