Peter Lorentzen, Political Science, UC Berkeley
Jessica Teets, Political Science, Middlebury College
The speaker's book examines the puzzle of increasing civil society activity in China despite the authoritarian government’s fears of civil society serving as a Trojan horse of democracy. The author argues that two decades of direct experience with these organizations has taught local officials that civil society also offers many benefits, such as delivering social services and improving governance, and has resulted in the construction of a consultative authoritarianism model attempting to balance the benefits and dangers of civil society.