Disruptions as Opportunities: Governing Chinese Society with Interactive Authoritarianism

Disruptions as Opportunities: Governing Chinese Society with Interactive Authoritarianism explores why China outlived other one-party authoritarian regimes by proposing a new theory of interactive authoritarianism. The book suggests that the Chinese state manages nascent civil society through a three-stage interactive approach: toleration, differentiation, and legalization without institutionalization, using examples such as earthquakes, internet censorship, and social-media-based guerilla resistance to the ride-sharing industry to test this theory.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2023
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

The book "Disruptions as Opportunities: Governing Chinese Society with Interactive Authoritarianism" delves into the intriguing question of why China has outlasted other one-party authoritarian regimes, with a special focus on how the state manages the emergence of a nascent civil society. Through a comprehensive analysis that includes over 1,200 survey responses collected from 126 villages in the Sichuan province, along with 70 in-depth interviews with Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders and government officials, participant observation, and online research, the book offers a novel theory of interactive authoritarianism to explain how an adaptive authoritarian state navigates the complexities of overseeing a developing civil society.

Authored by Sun, the book proposes a three-stage interactive approach that the Chinese state adopts when faced with new phenomena and forces within its society. These stages are tolerance, differentiation, and legalization without institutionalization. Sun utilizes three significant disruptions—earthquakes, internet censorship, and social-media-based guerilla resistance to the ride-sharing industry—to test and validate his theory about the three-stage interactive authoritarian approach. Through these case studies, he demonstrates how the Chinese government evolves and consolidates its power in times of crisis.

"Disruptions as Opportunities" provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of authoritarian governance in China. By examining the state's responses to various social and political challenges, the book sheds light on the strategies employed by the Chinese government to maintain control while allowing for limited societal participation. It challenges traditional understandings of authoritarianism and offers a fresh perspective on the evolving nature of political power in China.

This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and policymakers interested in understanding the complex relationship between the state, civil society, and political change in China. Its comprehensive analysis, rich data, and thoughtful insights make it an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of this critical region.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472075638