Final answer:
The introduction of stronger democratic international norms has most directly led to an increase in regimes defined as hybrids combining elements of democracy and authoritarian rule. this hybridity is often a response to international pressure to adhere to democratic standards while maintaining internal authoritarian practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stronger democratic international norms have contributed most directly to an increase in regimes defined as hybrids. While historically there have been shifts away from authoritarian regimes, as seen with Portugal in the mid-1970s, the contemporary political landscape is increasingly complex. The influence of international organizations like the United Nations and the global community does foster compliance and the necessity of states to justify their actions in the language of international norms. However, the lack of enforcement mechanisms can lead to a superficial adherence to democratic norms while authoritarian practices persist.
Constructivist theories in international relations emphasize the role of norms and states' desire to align with these norms, which might give rise to hybrid regimes. These are regimes that have democratic institutions in their structure but exhibit authoritarian tendencies in practice. With the increasing emphasis on global democratic norms, countries that wish to engage internationally may adopt democratic facades to gain legitimacy and access to international resources without fully committing to democratic principles internally.Furthermore, as the end of the Cold War brought about a spread of democratic institutions, the complexities of adhering to newly adopted democratic constitutions opened the door to hybrid regimes. These regimes maintain an outward democratic appearance, yet they may be internally authoritarian in nature, suggesting a rise in hybrid political systems is a direct response to the global push for democracy.