Watching the Watchers
Communist Elites, the Secret Police and Social Order in Cold War Europe

A unique comparative study of how authoritarian elites construct and control secret police agencies.

Henry Thomson (Author)

9781009413640, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 February 2025

354 pages
22.8 x 15 x 1.9 cm, 0.51 kg

'The book offers compelling theoretical insights, and a careful exploration of qualitative and quantitative evidence. It should be of great interest to anyone studying authoritarian politics and the political transitions of Eastern Europe.' Jan H. Pierskalla, Journal of Peace Research

Throughout history, dictators have constructed secret police agencies to neutralize rivals and enforce social order. But the same agencies can become disloyal and threatening. This book explores how eight communist regimes in Cold War Europe confronted this dilemma. Divergent strategies caused differences in regimes of repression, with consequences for social order and political stability. Surviving the shock of Josef Stalin's death, elites in East Germany and Romania retained control over the secret police. They grew their coercive institutions to effectively suppress dissent via surveillance and targeted repression. Elsewhere, ruling coalitions were thrown into turmoil after Stalin's death, changing personnel and losing control of the security apparatus. Post-Stalinist transitions led elites to restrict the capacity of the secret police and risk social disorder. Using original empirical analysis that is both rigorous and rich in fascinating detail, Henry Thomson brings new insights into the darkest corners of authoritarian regimes.

Part I. Introduction and Theory: 1. Introduction
2. Theory
Part II. Comparative Historical Analysis: 3. Introduction to part II
4. The Polish People's Republic
5. The German Democratic Republic
Part III. Cross-National Quantitative Analysis: 6. Introduction to part III
7. Elite cohesion and coercive agent tenure
8. Officers and secret informants
Part IV. Conclusion: 9. Conclusion
Appendix A: Secret police agencies and chiefs
Appendix B: Survival analysis
Appendix C: Agency size analysis.

Subject Areas: Constitution: government & the state [JPHC]