Seminars/Lectures
"The Durability of Revolutionary Regimes"
Thu
Mar
09
The 20th century saw the emergence of authoritarian regimes in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the USSR that have both challenged the global order and persisted in the face of massive external pressure and catastrophic economic downturns. Drawing on statistical analysis and in-depth case studies, Way argues that the threat and resilience of such regimes can be traced to their origins in violent revolutionary conflict. A history of violent revolutionary struggle encourages external aggression but also inoculates regimes against major causes of authoritarian breakdown such as military coups and mass protest.