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.
