Coalitions of the Weak (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

Coalitions of the Weak: How Leaders of One-Party Autocracies Maintain Power Without Legitimacy is a groundbreaking book that delves into the strategies employed by Chinese leaders to maintain their power without facing internal challenges or resistance to major policy changes.

Through an in-depth analysis of late-Mao politics, this book uncovers Mao's strategy of replacing experienced officials with politically tainted or inexperienced individuals, leading to two generations of weak leadership in the Chinese Communist Party.

This comprehensive account sheds light on the institutional and policy implications of these strategies for China, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the country's political dynamics.