How to transform autocracy to democracy: Protect refugees

How does protecting refugees help defend democracy? After all, research shows[1] that, in most cases, democracies permit the fewest entrance of refugees and autocracies permit the most.

However, as the International Refugee Assistance Project[2] and others point out, when refugees are denied due process and can be simply deported by autocratic fiat, the rights of all are correspondingly threatened, which means democracy itself is under direct threat.

How does a coup relate to forced migration in most cases? It depends. 

A coup that results in autocracy or a coup by democratic parties that fails to overturn an autocracy will likely send people fleeing the country. 

A coup that results in democracy, whether by a successful coup overthrowing an autocracy or a failed coup attempt to overthrow a democracy by autocrats, tends to produce no forced migration (Celestino, Lee & Kivimaki, 2025).

Protecting democracy is protecting refugees and protecting democracy prevents the emergence of a flight of refugees.

Reference

Celestino, M. R., Lee, S., & Kivimaki, T. (2025). Coups and refugee flows in autocracies and democracies. Journal of Ethnic & Migration Studies, 51(1), 159–178. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/10.1080/1369183X.2024.2410775

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[1] https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/democracy-and-its-paradox-forced-displacement-reimagining-us-refugee-resettlement-program

[2] https://refugeerights.org/news-resources/100-days-of-defending-refuge