The Death and Life of State Repression: Understanding Onset, Escalation, Termination, and Recurrence

The Death and Life of State Repression is a new book that argues that repression is a sticky process that is largely slow-moving and non-adaptive,and that political democratization plays a crucial role in reducing and stopping most aspects of repressive spells. It has major implications for those who wish to study state repression and those who have an interest in trying to reduce and stop it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Death and Life of State Repression delves into a problem that has plagued societies for at least 75 years, if not longer. Since the aftermath of World War II, individuals and institutions worldwide have been deeply concerned with state repression and human rights violations. However, a significant body of empirical literature has only emerged since around 1990, focusing on understanding the factors that drive this behavior, whether it increases or decreases over time. While this research has provided valuable insights, it has often overlooked crucial aspects of the cycle of state repression, including its onset, escalation, termination, and recurrence. Recognizing the importance of considering these different stages is crucial, as different explanations and policies may be relevant at different stages of the cycle.

In their groundbreaking work, The Death and Life of State Repression, the authors challenge the prevailing explanations and policies advanced by the international community. Instead, they propose a novel theory regarding spells, which they term "repressive spells." The book breaks new ground in several ways. Firstly, it explores a new database of repressive spells from 1976 to 2006, providing a comprehensive analysis of these events. Secondly, the authors challenge the notion that repression is a quick and adaptable process, arguing instead that it is largely slow-moving and non-adaptive. This insight has significant implications for understanding the dynamics of state repression and the challenges associated with changing it.

One of the most surprising findings of the book is that political democratization plays a crucial role in reducing and stopping most aspects of repressive spells. The authors argue that democratization itself is influenced by non-violent direct action, such as protests and civil disobedience. This suggests that promoting democratic values and institutions can be an effective means of countering state repression. The book also highlights the importance of considering the recurrence of repressive spells. It argues that unless the ruling cohort is perturbed in some manner, change in this behavior is rare. The authors propose that political transitions, economic crises, and social movements can all serve as triggers for perturbing the ruling cohort and initiating a process of change.

The implications of this research are far-reaching. For those who study state repression, the book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics of this behavior. It sheds light on the factors that contribute to the onset, escalation, termination, and recurrence of repressive spells and offers insights into the strategies that can be employed to reduce and stop them. For those who are interested in promoting human rights and reducing state repression, the book provides a clear roadmap for action. It suggests that promoting democratic values and institutions, as well as engaging in non-violent direct action, can be effective means of countering state repression and building more inclusive and democratic societies.

In conclusion, The Death and Life of State Repression is a groundbreaking work that challenges prevailing explanations and policies regarding state repression. It provides a novel theory regarding spells and explores a new database of repressive spells from 1976 to 2006. The book's findings suggest that political democratization plays a crucial role in reducing and stopping most aspects of repressive spells and that non-violent direct action can be an effective means of promoting change. The implications of this research are far-reaching, and it offers a clear roadmap for those who are interested in promoting human rights and reducing state repression.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197654927