New Books in Sociology Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, "Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism" (Princeton UP, 2022)
Aug 24, 2025
Lucan Way, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, discusses his latest work, co-authored with Steven Levitsky, on the surprising durability of authoritarian regimes that stem from revolutions. They analyze why revolutions, often seen as progressive, can entrench authoritarianism through counterrevolutionary violence. The conversation highlights historical examples from the Soviet Union to Cuba, illustrating how strong state-building and ruling elites contribute to regime stability, even amidst crises. They also touch on foreign policy strategies in relation to resilient authoritarian states.
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How A Long Collaboration Began
- Lucan Way recounts meeting Steven Levitsky in graduate school and starting a decades-long collaboration.
- Their first joint paper compared Poland and Argentina and seeded later coauthored books.
What Counts As A ‘Social Revolution’
- Revolutions here require both breakdown of state authority and deliberate attempts to transform social structure.
- That combination distinguishes the book's concept from mere protest-driven regime change.
Violent Origins Forge Durable States
- Early revolutionary radicalism provokes existential counterrevolutionary wars that shape state building.
- Surviving those wars creates cohesive parties, loyal coercive forces, and destroys rival centers, producing durable authoritarianism.
