The Art of Authoritarian Governance

Auteur

Dr. Yida Zhai is a political science researcher. His research interests include political psychology, political sociology, and Asian comparative politics and sociology.

Texte du rabat

The politics of COVID-19 reflect Chinäs general politics, revealing the characteristics of its governance. This book sheds light on how ordinary Chinese people view the government s anti-COVID-19 policies and evaluate Chinäs political system.

Résumé

The politics of COVID-19 reflect China's general politics, revealing the characteristics of its governance. This book sheds light on how ordinary Chinese people view the government's anti-COVID-19 policies and evaluate China's political system.

Generally, Chinese people evaluated China's COVID-19 response more favorably than that of other countries, maintaining their confidence in the superiority of China's political system. There have been many changes in Chinese attitudes toward the state and their perception of their own rights and responsibilities. During the pandemic, the state imposed various restrictions on people's mobility and activities. In addition, NGOs and grassroots volunteers were absorbed and integrated into the government's system to combat COVID-19. The Chinese authorities adopted various strategies to maintain public support for the government during the COVID-19 crisis, and these strategies continue to be applied even after the pandemic is over. The research findings not only facilitate a deeper understanding of China's changing state-society relations, but also explain the resilience and evolution of authoritarian regimes.

This book will be an essential read to students and scholars of Chinese studies, political science, and those who are interested in Chinese politics and public policy in general.

Contenu

1. Introduction 2. The Dynamics of State Society Relationships in China 3. Attitudes toward the Government s Anti-COVID-19 Policies 4. Evaluations of the Government s Anti-COVID-19 Performance 5. Erosion of Confidence in Democracy and Beliefs in the Superiority of Chinäs Political System 6. Authoritarianism and Preference for a Powerful Authority 7. Nationalism, Exclusive Orientations, and Attitudes toward Foreign Countries during the Pandemic 8. The Politics of COVID-19: The Political Logic of Chinäs Zero-COVID Policy