Managed Pluralism in Communist and Post-Communist States

Session Submission Type: Virtual Created Panel

Session Description

Pluralism defines the historical experiences, identities, and interests of social groups and their relationships with the state in communist and formerly communist countries. This panel examines the politics of “managed pluralism”: state efforts to construct, contain, ignore, or repress pluralistic societal groups and these groups’ diverse forms of political agency and contention. In the Soviet Union, China, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, for example, communist regimes developed highly formalized population classification systems to facilitate state building and consolidate power among political elites. States have invested heavily in formal institutions to systematically collect information from their citizens to govern and control targeted social groups, while also guarding against data politicization and even falsification. In addition, political elites have deliberately tailored mass mobilization appeals to an increasingly pluralistic society by foregrounding valence issues that foster consensus and downplaying particularistic position issues. At the same time, patriarchal political and economic institutions continue to constrain - and often discourage - women’s greater participation in the public sphere. Despite state efforts to manage pluralism, however, diverse social groups continue to push back. Papers on this panel challenge methodological and geographical boundaries to interrogate the politics of “managed pluralism” in communist and post-communist states. Additionally, the panelists and their research represent the goal of promoting pluralism: they are at different points in their careers, conduct their research in a variety of settings, and use various methodological approaches.

Sub Unit

• Division 13: Politics of Communist and Former Communist Countries

Individual Presentations

• Issue Positioning of Chinese Communist Party in Emerging Pluralist Society - Yong Jae Kim, Hawaii Pacific University

• Loyalty or Expertise - What Does an Authoritarian Regime Value in Consultations? - Felix Wiebrecht, Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Population Classification and Two Types of Social Control in China and the DPRK - Jung Eun Kim, Heidelberg University; Juan Wang, McGill University

• Women's Perceptions of Empowerment in Mongolia - Cynthia M. Horne, Western Washington University

• Partnering for Overseas Development: INGOs’ Changing Engagement with China - Elizabeth Plantan, Stetson University; Wendy Leutert, Indiana University; Austin Strange, University of Hong Kong

Chair

• Congyi Zhou New York University

Discussants

• Grace C. Huang St. Lawrence University

• Joel R. Campbell Troy University