Contentious Politics under Authoritarianism

Abstract

Classic theories of authoritarianism assume limited popular contention due to weak associational ties within society and harsh repression of incipient unrest. If ordinary people take to the streets, they are typically said to do so in the form of carefully scripted and controlled displays of state mobilization. Societal contention that takes place beyond these parameters is treated either as epiphenomenal to regime change or, if widespread and persistent, as a harbinger of regime-challenging revolution. This chapter, by contrast, draws attention to an important but understudied variety of contentious politics: state-mobilized movements, that is, movements that are actively promoted, overtly or covertly, by elements of the state itself. Specifically, it focuses on pro-regime contention in contemporary China and the Arab world. Though relatively unexplored and unexplained in the existing secondary literature, state-mobilized movements are arguably the most common form of contentious politics in contemporary authoritarian contexts, and critical to understanding authoritarian inception, regeneration, decay, and collapse.