The Authoritarian Public Sphere: Legitimation and Autocratic Power in North Korea, Burma, and China (Routledge Studies on Comparative Asian Politics)

Présentation de l'éditeur : "Authoritarian regimes craft and disseminate reasons, stories, and explanations for why they are entitled to rule. To shield those legitimating messages from criticism, authoritarian regimes also censor information that they find threatening. While committed opponents of the regime may be violently repressed, this book is about how the authoritarian state keeps the majority of its people quiescent by manipulating the ways in which they talk and think about political processes, the authorities, and political alternatives. Using North Korea, Burma (Myanmar) and China as case studies, this book explains how the authoritarian public sphere shapes political discourse in each context. It also examines three domains of potential subversion of legitimating messages: the shadow markets of North Korea, networks of independent journalists in Burma, and the online sphere in China. In addition to making a theoretical contribution to the study of authoritarianism, the book draws upon unique empirical data from fieldwork conducted in the region, including interviews with North Korean defectors in South Korea, Burmese exiles in Thailand, and Burmese in Myanmar who stayed in the country during the military government. When analyzed alongside state-produced media, speeches, and legislation, the material provides a rich understanding of how autocratic legitimation influences everyday discussions about politics in the authoritarian public sphere. Explaining how autocracies manipulate the ways in which their citizens talk and think about politics, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian politics, comparative politics and authoritarian regimes." Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction: Legitimation and authoritarianism -- Taking legitimation, ideology, and propaganda seriously in authoritarian politics -- Plan of the book -- Semi-structured interview data -- 2 The authoritarian public sphere: "We always had complaints but only in our minds"--The authoritarian public sphere -- State infrastructure and the authoritarian public sphere -- Authoritarian public spheres in North Korea and Burma/Myanmar -- Conclusion -- 3 Authoritarian power and legitimating messages: A framework for analysis -- Legitimation, ideology, and the study of authoritarianism -- Legitimating messages and the maintenance of authoritarian power -- Conclusion -- 4 Manipulating the public sphere in North Korea, Burma/Myanmar, and China -- Legitimation elements in North Korea -- Legitimation elements in SLORC/SPDC Burma -- Legitimation elements in Chinese leadership transitions -- Conclusion -- 5 Unsettling an authoritarian public sphere? Shadow markets, independent journalism, and the internet -- The North Korean shadow economy -- Independent print journalism in Burma under the SLORC/SPDC -- The online public sphere in China -- Conclusion -- 6 Beyond post-Cold War Asia: Explorations in the authoritarian public sphere -- Right-wing, anti-communist autocracy: South Korea's military dictatorship -- Communism beyond Asia: post-Cold War Cuba in a post-communist world -- Religious-electoral hybrid autocracy: revolutionary Iran and the "Green Movement"--Conclusion -- 7 Conclusion: The authoritarian public sphere and contemporary autocracies -- Brief summation of argument -- Contributions to three domains of scholarship -- Insights for politics and policy -- Concluding remarks and open questions -- References -- Index Présentation de l'éditeur : "Authoritarian regimes craft and disseminate reasons, stories, and explanations for why they are entitled to rule. To shield those legitimating messages from criticism, authoritarian regimes also censor information that they find threatening. While committed opponents of the regime may be violently repressed, this book is about how the authoritarian state keeps the majority of its people quiescent by manipulating the ways in which they talk and think about political processes, the authorities, and political alternatives. Using North Korea, Burma (Myanmar) and China as case studies, this book explains how the authoritarian public sphere shapes political discourse in each context. It also examines three domains of potential subversion of legitimating messages: the shadow markets of North Korea, networks of independent journalists in Burma, and the online sphere in China. In addition to making a theoretical contribution to the study of authoritarianism, the book draws upon unique empirical data from fieldwork conducted in the region, including interviews with North Korean defectors in South Korea, Burmese exiles in Thailand, and Burmese in Myanmar who stayed in the country during the military government. When analyzed alongside state-produced media, speeches, and legislation, the material provides a rich understanding of how autocratic legitimation influences everyday discussions about politics in the authoritarian public sphere. Explaining how autocracies manipulate the ways in which their citizens talk and think about politics, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian politics, comparative politics and authoritarian regimes." 1.introduction : Legitimation & Authoritarianism -- The Authoritarian Public Sphere : 'we Always Had Complaints But Only In Our Minds' -- Authoritarian Power & Legitimating Messages : A Framework For Analysis -- Manipulating The Public Sphere In North Korea, Burma/myanmar, And China -- Unsettling An Authoritarian Public Sphere? : Shadow Markets, Independent Journalism, And The Internet -- Beyond Post-cold War Asia : Explorations In The Authoritarian Public Sphere -- Conclusion : The Authoritarian Public Sphere And Contemporary Autocracies. Alexander Dukalskis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Using North Korea, Burma/Myanmar and China as case studies, this book explains how the authoritarian public sphere shapes political discourse in each context and examines three domains of subversion of ruling ideologies: the shadow markets of North Korea, networks of independent journalists in Burma/Myanmar, and the online sphere in China.