Democracy Paradox
Deng Xiaoping is Not Who You Think He is. Joseph Torigian on Leadership Transitions in China and the Soviet Unio
Sep 5, 2023
This podcast discusses the complexities of leadership transitions in authoritarian regimes, challenging commonly held beliefs about Deng Xiaoping's role in starting the Reform and Opening policy. It explores policy changes and leadership transitions in China and the Soviet Union, and delves into the complex emotions towards leaders like Stalin and Mao. The podcast also provides a comparative analysis of China and the Soviet Union in terms of transitions of power in authoritarian regimes, and discusses the unresolved legacies of Mao and Stalin.
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Quick takeaways
- Leadership transitions in China and the Soviet Union were primarily influenced by personal relationships and gaining the trust of top leaders, rather than competing policy platforms.
- Deng Xiaoping's promotion of reform in China was driven by a contestation of leadership legitimacy and credibility, rather than solely policy differences with his predecessor.
Deep dives
Power struggles in leadership transitions
The podcast discusses the challenges of leadership succession in authoritarian regimes, focusing on China and the Soviet Union. It explores the power struggles and political dynamics during the transitions from Stalin to Khrushchev and Mao to Deng. The guest, Joseph Teregan, presents a revisionist account of these transitions, challenging the popular narrative that emphasizes policy differences and inner-party democracy. Instead, he highlights the role of personal antagonisms, manipulation of ambiguous rules, and the significance of gaining the trust and legitimacy of the top leader. This sheds light on potential implications for future leadership successions in China and Russia.
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