What are Chinese citizens’ views about politics and policies – and does it matter? A simple explanation for the endurance of the Chinese party-state is that authoritarian leaders can hold on to power through repression. But the use of force is costly and comes with a high risk of rebellion. Thus, even authoritarian leaders need some degree of popular acceptance of their rule. How does the CCP seek to garner such popular acceptance, and does it work? How and under what conditions do Chinese citizens take action against the regime – and at what cost? In this course, we will study China’s political system by examining interplays between the party-state and populace. We will explore key theories and empirical findings on authoritarian legitimation, resilience and popular resistance, including by making comparisons to other authoritarian states.
The course is divided into five parts, each consisting of a lecture and a seminar:
- Repression and legitimation from Mao to Xi: What are the CCPs claims to a “right to rule”?
- What do Chinese people think? Sources of popular political legitimacy.
- Authoritarian responsiveness: Do Chinese citizens’ feedback matter to Chinese politics?
- What happens when people rise? Sources and consequences of popular resistance.
- The Future of the Party-state: Stability or Turmoil?
Students will write an essay on one among the five topics. During seminars, they will present their own essay, conduct peer review of other students’ essay and discuss the topic with fellow students and faculty. They are expected to formulate their own viewpoints regarding each topic during preparatory reading, and to articulate their understanding through peer commenting and class discussions.