New Books Network Inside Jobs: How Great Powers Meddle in Other Countries’ Elections
Dec 14, 2025
Dov Levin, an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Hong Kong and author of Meddling in the Ballot Box, discusses the alarming prevalence of foreign meddling in elections. He reveals that great powers often collaborate with local elites for successful interventions and explains why overt meddling usually yields better results than covert operations. The conversation also covers historical precedents, dirty tricks like disinformation, and the risks of modern voting technologies, emphasizing how these interventions can erode democracy and sovereignty.
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Electoral Meddling Is Historically Normal
- Foreign meddling in elections is common and has long historical roots.
- Founders like Alexander Hamilton explicitly worried about foreign influence when designing institutions.
Overt Interventions Can Be Bigger And Costlier
- Overt interventions (threats/promises) are more common and can be costlier than covert operations.
- Trump's Argentina intervention was unusual mainly for its scale and direct financial commitment.
Open Support Often Wins More Votes
- Overt interventions increase vote share more than covert ones on average.
- Overt aid allows larger, visible resource transfers and direct messages to voters that covert operations cannot match.
