14178

SoSe 22: Public participation and authoritarian control in China

Maria Bondes

Comments

Many countries around the world are experiencing a shift towards stricter authoritarian rule accompanied by shrinking spaces for civil society. Also in China, top-down political control has intensified since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2013. At the same time, it has become common-ground for non-democratic regimes like China to integrate institutions and mechanisms of public participation into their system of governance with the goal of enhancing political stability and effective policy-making. This instrumental approach towards public participation faces the challenge of mobilizing citizens without promoting political pluralism or democracy. This course introduces students to the dynamics of public participation and authoritarian control in China. It addresses questions such as: In which forms and why does the Chinese party-state invite or tolerate public participation while at the same time maintaining top-down political control? And how and why do Chinese citizens participate in a system of governance that significantly curtails their privacy and civic liberties? Throughout the course, students will become familiar with concepts such as “consultative authoritarianism,” “populist authoritarianism,” “participatory authoritarianism,” or “authoritarian citizenship,” and gain a deeper understanding of state-society relations in China more broadly. The course will approach these issues through readings, in-class group exercises and discussion rounds on a bi-weekly basis. close