Transparency As A Tool Of Authoritarian Governance In China

from UCL Uncovering Politics · host Alan Renwick, Handi Li

Transparency is seen as a hallmark of democracy, yet some authoritarian states have real open government policies too. Why? New research suggests a striking answer: transparency may help non-democratic regimes maintain stability, by steering citizens towards official channels and away from protest. Joining host Alan Renwick is Dr Handi Li, Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the UCL Department of Political Science, whose research tests this idea in China and finds clear supporting evidence Mentioned in this episode: Transparency for Authoritarian Stability: Open Government Information and Contention with Institutions in China by Handi Li, World Politics (forthcoming).

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 21, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

What this episode covers

This week we ask why some authoritarian governments are willing to let their citizens know when things go wrong.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

Transparency As A Tool Of Authoritarian Governance In China

0:00 33:43

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

The Dennis Michael Lynch Show TeamDML M-F 10amET: Dennis Michael Lynch ("DML") is a popular conservative commentator who covers news, politics, culture, and society. His unfiltered approach in delivering hard-hitting commentary stems from DML's unique perspective as an award-winning entrepreneur, acclaimed filmmaker, respected cable news anchor, and dedicated family man. The show offers a collection of styles, including interviews, solo commentary, long form and short form, and is presented in both video and audio. VIDEO: The podcast airs Monday-Friday, LIVE on Facebook.com/DMLNewsApp, TeamDML.com. AUDIO: Available on The DML NEWS APP, TeamDML.com, and on all major podcast platforms. Tune in to listen to the most trusted man in news. Download the DML NEWS APP and never miss an episode. THINK BIGGER, THINK BETTER Paul Gibbons THINK BIGGER, THINK BETTER presents the 21st century’s leading entrepreneurs, scientists, philosophers, public intellectuals, and business and political leaders as they discuss the most important issues of today. Join your host Paul Gibbons and his guests as they explore themes such as: progress and technology, reason and emotions, ethics and business leadership, science and health, media and society, politics and education, pseudoscience and marketing hype, neuroscience and decision making. To support us on Patreon, go to patreon.com/paulgibbons Two Flawed Broads Two Flawed Broads Two Flawed Broads is a podcast hosted by two women who are unapologetically themselves. With humor and wit, they discuss their journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. The hosts, Alexys and Sherri, discuss a variety of topics, from pop culture to politics, and share their personal experiences and opinions and encourage their listeners to do the same. Join these two flawed but fabulous women as they offer a fresh perspective on the world around us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics?

This episode is 33 minutes long.

When was this UCL Uncovering Politics episode published?

This episode was published on May 21, 2026.

Can I download this UCL Uncovering Politics episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!