Surveillance Dynamics in Dictatorships

This chapter explores the rationale behind the establishment of comprehensive surveillance systems by dictatorships, focusing on the balance between reactive and preventive repression. It discusses the complexities of the Chinese surveillance state, detailing how the Communist Party structures its monitoring efforts and the role of civilian informants in maintaining regime security. Additionally, the chapter examines the challenges and limitations of these systems, emphasizing the relationship between coercion and the party-state's legitimacy.