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The Return of Ideology: The Search for Regime Identities in Postcommunist Russia and China
Cheng ChenAs a nation makes the transition from communism to democracy or another form of authoritarianism, its regime must construct not only new political institutions, but also a new political ideology that can guide policy and provide a sense of mission. The new ideology is crucial for legitimacy at home and abroad, as well as the regime's long-term viability. In The Return of Ideology, Cheng Chen compares post-communist regimes, with a focus on Russia under Putin and post-Deng China, investigating the factors that affect the success of an ideology-building project and identifies the implications for international affairs.
Successful ideology-building requires two necessary—but not sufficient—conditions. The regime must establish a coherent ideological repertoire that takes into account the nation's ideological heritage and fresh surges of nationalism. Also, the regime must attract and maintain a strong commitment to the emerging ideology among the political elite.
Drawing on rich primary sources, including interviews, surveys, political speeches, writings of political leaders, and a variety of publications, Chen identifies the major obstacles to ideology-building in modern Russia and China and assesses their respective long-term prospects. Whereas creating a new regime ideology has been a protracted and difficult process in China, it has been even more so in Russia. The ability to forge an ideology is not merely a domestic concern for these two nations, but a matter of international import as these two great powers move to assert and extend their influence in the world.
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Cover
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Title
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Copyright
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Dedication
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Contents
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Acknowledgments
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List of Abbreviations
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Chapter 1. Introduction
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Chapter 2. Regime Ideology and Postcommunism
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Chapter 3. A Decade of Ideological Divergence: Russia and Central and Eastern Europe in the 1990s
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Chapter 4. Regime Ideology-Building in Putin’s Russia: A Personalistic Approach
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Chapter 5. Regime Ideology-Building in Post-Deng China: Striving for Institutionalization
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Chapter 6. Conclusion
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Notes
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Bibliography
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Index
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- 978-0-472-11993-6 (hardcover)
- 978-0-472-12199-1 (ebook)