{"product_id":"watching-the-watchers-communist-elites-the-secret-police-and-social-order-in-cold-war-europe-paperback-softback-9781009413640","title":"Watching the Watchers; Communist Elites, the Secret Police and Social Order in Cold War Europe (Paperback \/ softback) 9781009413640","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eWatching the Watchers\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eCommunist Elites, the Secret Police and Social Order in Cold War Europe\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA unique comparative study of how authoritarian elites construct and control secret police agencies.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eHenry Thomson (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781009413640, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 6 February 2025\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e354 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.8 x 15 x 1.9 cm, 0.51 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e'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\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThroughout 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.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePart I. Introduction and Theory: 1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. Theory\u003cbr\u003e Part II. Comparative Historical Analysis: 3. Introduction to part II\u003cbr\u003e 4. The Polish People's Republic\u003cbr\u003e 5. The German Democratic Republic\u003cbr\u003e Part III. Cross-National Quantitative Analysis: 6. Introduction to part III\u003cbr\u003e 7. Elite cohesion and coercive agent tenure\u003cbr\u003e 8. Officers and secret informants\u003cbr\u003e Part IV. Conclusion: 9. Conclusion\u003cbr\u003e Appendix A: Secret police agencies and chiefs\u003cbr\u003e Appendix B: Survival analysis\u003cbr\u003e Appendix C: Agency size analysis.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Constitution: government \u0026amp; the state [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Constitution: government \u0026amp; the state\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Constitution:%20government%20\u0026amp;%20the%20state%20%5BJPHC%5D%22\"\u003eJPHC\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52501424636184,"sku":"9781009413640","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781009413640i.jpg?v=1786237547","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/watching-the-watchers-communist-elites-the-secret-police-and-social-order-in-cold-war-europe-paperback-softback-9781009413640","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}