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
esTr
inid
ad a
nd T
obag
oCo
lom
bia
Ghan
aEc
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
iaKu
wai
tTa
iwan Ira
qU
nite
d St
ates
Bela
rus
Sing
apor
eKy
rgyz
stan
Kaza
khst
anJa
pan
Esto
nia
Yem
enGe
rman
yAu
stra
liaN
ew Z
eala
ndSw
eden
Chin
aN
ethe
rland
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!
Top Related