Shadow Factions: The Dictator’s Local Dilemma

• In Event: From Elites to Activists: Network Approaches to Political Struggle, Contention, and Sectarianism

Brief Overview

This paper examines a structural dilemma that dictators inevitably confront during power personalization. It highlights the paradox that consolidating power through protégés simultaneously fosters shadow factions at the local level.

Author

• Yuge Wang, University of Georgia