Jessica Teets, a Professor at Middlebury College and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chinese Political Science, dives into the complexities of China's governance under Xi Jinping. She discusses the concept of fragmented authoritarianism and its implications for local governance. Teets highlights the central government's increasing control, the struggles local officials face, and the impacts of digitization. The conversation also touches on how Xi's centralization efforts affect policymaking and what this means for China's future amid ongoing reforms.

Professor Jessica Teets from Middlebury College and Jude Blanchette discuss resilient authoritarianism in China, focusing on public comment periods and citizen interaction with policymakers. They analyze Xi Jinping's governance style, the impact on Chinese politics, and the regime's resiliency in 2024, emphasizing a responsive government and economic strategy.

Max Grömping and Jessica Teets discuss lobbying by civil society organizations in authoritarian regimes, exploring case studies from China, Russia, Belarus, Cambodia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. They highlight the challenges faced by non-elite groups and the potential influence of citizens in oppressive regimes. Topics covered include the dynamics of co-option, NGO policy advocacy in China, navigating advocacy in Turkey, and the interaction between economic conditions and policy advocacy in autocracies.