Overview

The revival of authoritarianism is one of the most important forces reshaping world politics today. However, not all authoritarians are the same. To examine both resurgence and variation in authoritarian rule, Karrie J. Koesel, Valerie J. Bunce, and Jessica Chen Weiss gather a leading cast of scholars to compare the most powerful autocracies in global politics today: Russia and China. The essays in Citizens and the State in Authoritarian Regimes focus on three issues that currently animate debates about these two countries and, more generally, authoritarian political systems. First, how do authoritarian regimes differ from one another, and how do these differences affect regime-society relations? Second, what do citizens think about the authoritarian governments that rule them, and what do they want from their governments? Third, what strategies do authoritarian leaders use to keep citizens and public officials in line and how successful are those strategies in sustaining both the regime and the leader's hold on power? Integrating the most important findings from a now-immense body of research into a coherent comparative analysis of Russia and China, this book will be essential for anyone studying the foundations of contemporary authoritarianism.

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9780190093488

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Reviews

the tools of analysis herein deployed are undoubtedly useful in an examination of the nature of other authoritarian regimes around the world. -- Lionel Blackman, Rights in Russia Must-read material for students, journalists, and activists interested in how authoritarian politics works in the world's most influential non-democratic states. The volume takes seriously the too-often neglected fact that today's authoritarian leaders must govern as well as rule, must negotiate as well as dictate. With chapters written by a who's who of scholars of contemporary Russia and China, the book compares two authoritarian giants, whose different systems offer a fascinating range of similarities and contrasts. The result is a series of important lessons for those interested in the broader issues of how authoritarian rule survives-even thrives-in a globalizing world. -- Graeme B. Robertson, author of Putin V. the People An extremely timely volume that leverages in-depth comparative inquiry among three generations of top Russia and China scholars to analyze contrasting patterns of dictatorship. A must-read for understanding state-society relations in today's illiberal-leaning global political climate. -- Andrew Mertha, author of Brothers in Arms: Chinese Aid to the Khmer Rouge, 1975-1979

An extremely timely volume that leverages in-depth comparative inquiry among three generations of top Russia and China scholars to analyze contrasting patterns of dictatorship. A must-read for understanding state-society relations in today's illiberal-leaning global political climate. * Andrew Mertha, author of Brothers in Arms: Chinese Aid to the Khmer Rouge, 1975-1979 * Must-read material for students, journalists, and activists interested in how authoritarian politics works in the world's most influential non-democratic states. The volume takes seriously the too-often neglected fact that today's authoritarian leaders must govern as well as rule, must negotiate as well as dictate. With chapters written by a who's who of scholars of contemporary Russia and China, the book compares two authoritarian giants, whose different systems offer a fascinating range of similarities and contrasts. The result is a series of important lessons for those interested in the broader issues of how authoritarian rule survives-even thrives-in a globalizing world. * Graeme B. Robertson, author of Putin V. the People *

Author Information

Karrie J. Koesel is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Valerie J. Bunce is the Aaron Binenkorb Professor Emerita of Government at Cornell University. Jessica Chen Weiss is Associate Professor of Government at Cornell University.

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