Bruce J. Dickson

Areas of Expertise

Chinese politics; authoritarian regimes; regime change; state-society relations

Professor Dickson's research and teaching focus on political dynamics in China, especially the adaptability of the Chinese Communist Party and the regime it governs. In addition to courses on China, he also teaches on comparative politics, authoritarianism, and democratization.

Current Research

Professor Dickson's current research examines the political consequences of economic reform in China, the Chinese Communist Party’s evolving strategy for survival, and the changing relationship between state and society. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, the US Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 

Education

Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1994

CV

Publications

Books:

The Dictator’s Dilemma: The Chinese Communist Party’s Strategy for Survival (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016)

Allies of the State: Democratic Support and Regime Support among China’s Private Entrepreneurs (Harvard University Press, 2010), co-author with Jie Chen

Wealth into Power: The Communist Party's Embrace of China's Private Sector (Cambridge University Press, 2008)

Red Capitalists in China: The Party, Private Entrepreneurs, and Prospects for Political Change (Cambridge University Press, 2003)

Democratization in China and Taiwan: The Adaptability of Leninist Parties (Oxford University Press, 1998)

Professor Dickson has also published articles in Asian Survey, China Quarterly, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Current History, Journal of Democracy, and Political Science Quarterly, and is co-editor of four other books.

Office Hours

Thursday 2 pm - 4 pm

Classes Taught

1001 Introduction to Comparative Politics

2371 China's Domestic and Foreign Policies

6370 Politics of China I

6371 Politics of China II

8331 Advanced Theories of Comparative Politics

8340 Authoritarianism