Description
Book SynopsisDictatorship by Degrees: Xi Jinping in China traces the totalitarian elements that linger in China’s governing policies and practices, such as extra-legal Anti-Corruption Campaign, great concentration of power in one man, increasing intolerance, increasing propaganda, increasing indoctrination, increasing self-criticism inside the Party, expansion of Party cells across society, increasing censorship, cult of personality, and mass incarceration in Xinjiang. Steven P. Feldman develops a concept of pre-totalitarianism to explore these developments through extensive field data, including interviews with business executives, professors, lawyers, and non-profit executives, and observations of daily life. Feldman argues that Chinese political culture, based on the core principle of small group loyalties is inherently unstable, resulting in an ongoing tendency for leaders to concentrate power to survive and accomplish their goals. Under communist dictatorial political organization, totalitarian domination is always a temptation and risk.
Trade ReviewDrawing on classic models of totalitarianism and fieldwork, Steven P. Feldman re-interprets political trends under Xi Jinping, arguing that Xi has propelled China toward a return to the radicalism of the Cultural Revolution. Professor Feldman’s analysis provides a highly provocative, and no doubt controversial, reading of the evolution of contemporary Chinese politics and society.
-- Andrew Wedeman, Georgia State University
Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Pre-Totalitarianism: Gateway to the Supersense
Chapter 2: The Chinese Political System: A Literature Review
Part II: Field Data Analysis
Chapter 3: Patterns in Chinese Politics
Chapter 4: Management and Governance
Chapter 5: Censorship
Chapter 6: Vicissitudes in Dictatorial Control
Chapter 7: Political Change
Chapter 8: Mao and the Cultural Revolution as Models
Chapter 9: Factions Today
Chapter 10: Parade, Party, and President Xi
