What makes a country continue to function even in the times of severe political crises? My dissertation addresses this question by presenting the theory of bureaucratic stability. I argue that because of their institutional knowledge and specialized skills, senior bureaucrats are the only constant in the governance structure and hence, a major stakeholder in governance. I theorize that in cases where the quality of bureaucracy and institutional autonomy are high, the country will have stable

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... ernance i.e. public service delivery and policy implementation, even in times of political crises. I define the quality of bureaucracy as professionalized training and meritorious recruitment/ promotions while institutional autonomy is defined as. insulation from political fallout and independent policymaking. Using extensive fieldwork including elites interviews conducted in Taiwan, Pakistan, and Turkey, I present evidence to support my theory using network analyses that map interactions between various stakeholders in the case countries to highlight the role of high-quality senior bureaucracy who possess high levels of institutional autonomy and ensure governance stability even during dire political crises. Using network analysis during real instances of political crises, I also explain how Turkey descended into authoritarian rule while Taiwan ascended to become a democracy supported by high-quality senior bureaucrats who had institutional autonomy. My dissertation provides a causal framework that aids our understanding of success and failure of democratization through the contribution of institutions and bureaucracies.