New research challenges long-held assumptions about foreign aid's impact on authoritarian regimes.

➡️ Original Study: Examines all autocratic client regimes from 1946 to 2010.

➡️ Findings: Western sponsorship didn't boost regime survival; Soviet support actually reduced coup risk.

➡️ Why?: US allies refrained from direct intervention, leaving clients vulnerable—unlike the Soviets' targeted strategies.

The study's novel dataset reveals this stark contrast between Cold War rivals in sustaining power.