Hostile Forces: How the Chinese Communist Party Resists International Pressure on Human Rights

Authoritarian regimes often face pressure from the international community over human rights issues. However, according to Jamie Gruffydd-Jones' book "Hostile Forces," international pressure can actually benefit these regimes at home. He argues that by strategically using hostile pressure, authoritarian leaders can manipulate citizens to view human rights in terms of international geopolitics rather than domestic injustice, reducing support for change. The book provides insights into how regimes manage, manipulate, and resist foreign pressure on their human rights and highlights how support for authoritarian and nationalist policies can grow in the face of a liberal international system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

China's leaders have faced decades of international scrutiny, condemnation, resolutions, boycotts, and sanctions due to their treatment of human rights. It is believed that hearing about this pressure will increase public concern about human rights, and authoritarian regimes like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should take steps to prevent this. In his book "Hostile Forces," Jamie Gruffydd-Jones argues that while international pressure may embarrass authoritarian leaders on the global stage, it may actually benefit them domestically. Regimes like the CCP are not mere passive recipients of human rights pressure but active actors who can strategically shape and deploy that pressure to their advantage.

Gruffydd-Jones takes us on a historical journey of the CCP's reactions to foreign pressure, from condemnation of Mao's crackdowns in Tibet to outrage over the outbreak of COVID-19. He analyzes a novel database drawn from state media archives, conducts survey experiments, and conducts hundreds of interviews to demonstrate how the CCP uses the most hostile pressure strategically and successfully to push citizens to view human rights in terms of international geopolitics rather than domestic injustice. The book sheds light on how regimes have learned to manage, manipulate, and resist foreign pressure on their human rights and illustrates how support for authoritarian and nationalist policies might grow in the face of a liberal international system.

In conclusion, Gruffydd-Jones' book "Hostile Forces" provides valuable insights into how authoritarian regimes deal with pressure from the international community. By demonstrating how the CCP uses hostile pressure strategically to shape public opinion and reduce support for change, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics between international pressure and domestic politics. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges faced by authoritarian regimes and the strategies they employ to maintain power.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197643204