The Illiberal Challenge of Authoritarian China

Abstract

A vibrant civil society and participatory public are often assumed to be fundamental pillars of democratization. However, the experience of contemporary China challenges this conventional wisdom. The Chinese case suggests that, rather than spurring democratization, a robust civil society and a restive public may actually work to strengthen and sustain an attentive authoritarian regime. Such is the illiberal challenge of Chinese authoritarianism.