Read on Twitter![My @OUPAcademic book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship is now officially published. [Thread]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzboY4EX0AAmh-v.jpg "My @OUPAcademic book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship is now officially published. [Thread]")
![My @OUPAcademic book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship is now officially published. [Thread]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzboaePWUAEFrjM.jpg "My @OUPAcademic book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship is now officially published. [Thread]")
You can see more details and purchase the book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/making-the-world-safe-for-dictatorship-9780197520130?cc=us&lang=en&
The book is about how authoritarian states try to control their image abroad using promotional tactics (e.g. PR, propaganda, soft power initiatives, etc.) and protect themselves from criticism using obstructive means (e.g. by silencing dissidents or obscuring bad news).
I call this "authoritarian image management". The book spends two chapters building theory and elaborating mechanisms.
It develops a framework that can categorize the various things that authoritarian states do in these areas into higher-order mechanisms for analysis.
It develops a framework that can categorize the various things that authoritarian states do in these areas into higher-order mechanisms for analysis.
It uses lots of different data, ranging from Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) fillings to interviews to fieldwork to media frequency analysis to content analysis of propaganda.
It also builds a dataset on authoritarian states attempting to threaten, attack, abduct, arrest, detain, or assassinate their citizens abroad perceived to be politically threatening between 1991-2019. It records nearly 1,200 such events just from publicly available info sources.
That dataset - called the Authoritarian Actions Abroad Database - along with the codebook is *freely and publicly* available here. Feel free to use it - just cite/credit the book if you do. https://alexdukalskis.wordpress.com/data/
The book also narrows its focus to go in depth on some case studies.
One chapter uses interview data with foreign correspondents in China
to understand how the government tries to shape their coverage of the country.
One chapter uses interview data with foreign correspondents in China
to understand how the government tries to shape their coverage of the country.
Another addresses the full range of China's authoritarian image management. This includes a content analysis of CGTN coverage of Xinjiang, interview data with participants in China's foreign journalist training programs, analysis of speeches, etc.
There is a chapter on Rwanda 
that shows how the government has strong incentives to manage its image due to aid dependence and has a well-developed authoritarian image management portfolio ranging from cultivating elite foreign friends to repressing dissident critics.
that shows how the government has strong incentives to manage its image due to aid dependence and has a well-developed authoritarian image management portfolio ranging from cultivating elite foreign friends to repressing dissident critics.
A chapter on North Korea 
uses historical analysis and fieldwork interviews to document how the country has tried to manage its image for the ethnically Korean population in Japan. It also has some historical analysis and a section on NK sympathizer groups around the world.
uses historical analysis and fieldwork interviews to document how the country has tried to manage its image for the ethnically Korean population in Japan. It also has some historical analysis and a section on NK sympathizer groups around the world.
Bottom line:
If you are interested in how authoritarian states present themselves abroad & try to influence their image and the global conversation about authoritarian politics, this will be for you.
If you are interested in how authoritarian states present themselves abroad & try to influence their image and the global conversation about authoritarian politics, this will be for you.
Lots and lots of people helped along the way by steering me in good directions and away from bad ones.
I won't tag you here, but keep an eye out for an email from me in the next few days to thank you directly.
I won't tag you here, but keep an eye out for an email from me in the next few days to thank you directly.
I'm assuming Amazon has all these sub-categories just to make authors feel better. https://www.amazon.com/Making-World-Dictatorship-Alexander-Dukalskis/dp/0197520138/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dukalskis&qid=1620203030&sr=8-2
Received author copies of my new @OUPAcademic book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship
If you RT this I’ll put you in a random drawing that I’ll do on Sunday evening. I’ll draw two names and each gets a free copy shipped to them wherever they happen to be on the planet.
If you RT this I’ll put you in a random drawing that I’ll do on Sunday evening. I’ll draw two names and each gets a free copy shipped to them wherever they happen to be on the planet.
For skeptics, I did something like this 
a few months ago when I found copies of my first book when moving office stuff and as the ‘winner’ @AxelDessein can attest that I actually did send the book - and quickly too!
a few months ago when I found copies of my first book when moving office stuff and as the ‘winner’ @AxelDessein can attest that I actually did send the book - and quickly too!
Well, congratulations to @EpengZhang and @michellekae_ - yours were the two names drawn for this. Email me with your postal address and I'll get a copy in the mail to you each. My email address is at the link in my bio. Thanks again and happy reading!
