Populist Authoritarianism in China

Wenfang Tang Department of Political Science

University of Iowa

Explanations of Chinese authoritarian regime resiliency

• Economic performance, traditional culture, media control

Explanations of Chinese authoritarian regime resiliency

• Economic performance, traditional culture, media control

• But why do regime support and protests coexist?

Populist Authoritarianism (Tang 2016)

2. Social capital and interpersonal trust

1. Populist ideology 3. Political activism & contention

4. Government responsiveness

6. Political support

5. Weak institutions & civil society (rule of law, elections, rules, NGOs, censorship)

1. Mass Line ideology

2. Interpersonal trust: “Can most people be trusted?” (%) (World Values Survey 2010-2014)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Phili

ppin

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inid

ad a

nd T

obag

oCo

lom

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Ghan

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uado

rCy

prus

Rom

ania

Zim

babw

eM

alay

siaPe

ruLi

bya

Leba

non

Arm

enia

Turk

eyM

exic

oM

oroc

coCh

ileJo

rdan

Uzb

ekist

anN

iger

iaU

rugu

ayAz

erba

ijan

Tuni

siaRw

anda

Pale

stin

eAl

geria

Spai

nSl

oven

iaQ

atar

Egyp

tPo

land

Paki

stan

Ukr

aine

Sout

h Ko

rea

Russ

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wai

tTa

iwan Ira

qU

nite

d St

ates

Bela

rus

Sing

apor

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rgyz

stan

Kaza

khst

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pan

Esto

nia

Yem

enGe

rman

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stra

liaN

ew Z

eala

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eden

Chin

aN

ethe

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s

3. Political activism & contentious politics

3. Contentious politics (CLDS 2012, n=4394)

52,4%

23,7%

13,7%

7,4% 2,3%

0,4%

47,6%

no dispute

1 dispute

2 disputes

3 disputes

4 disputes

5disputes

4. Government responsiveness

4. Government responsiveness

4. “Government responds to what people want (% very/largely responsive): China (2008) =77%, Taiwan (2006) =36%, Sources: ABSII

46,7

55,5

59,4

57,5

88,6

36,2

26,6

28,6

29,5

4,8

5,2

6,7

6,6

4,4

5,7

11,9

11,2

5,4

8,5

0,8

BAD CONDITION N=660

UNFAIR PAY N=802

DELAYED PAY N=700

OVERWORK N=892

INJURY N=527

5. Weak institutions: Dispute resolution channels (weighted %, CLDS 2012)

ind. negotiation group negotiation institutions protest

6. Political support in China (2008) Source: ABSII

China

Trust in 7 institutions (additive index, max=100) 61

Leaders can be trusted (% agree/strongly agree) 51

Proud to be citizen (% very proud) 42

Our system is the best (% agree/strongly agree) 73

6. Political support in China (2008) and Taiwan (2006) Source: ABSII

China Taiwan

Trust in 7 institutions (additive index, max=100) 61 21

Leaders can be trusted (% agree/strongly agree) 51 22

Proud to be citizen (% very proud) 42 28

Our system is the best (% agree/strongly agree) 73 62

6. Political trust in China: Central vs. local

Populist Authoritarianism (Tang 2016)

2. Social capital and interpersonal trust

1. Mass Line ideology and populism

3. Political activism & contention

4. Government responsiveness

6. Political support

5. Weak institutions & civil society (rule of law, rules, elections, censorship, NGOs)

5. Political instability

Thank you!