Awards

• Winner of Co-winner, 2024 Mary Douglas Prize for Best Book in the Sociology of Culture, American Sociological Association.

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9780197751596

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This is a truly excellent and original work of cultural and political sociology, asking questions profoundly important for understanding the legitimation, acceptance, and enthusiasm for 'flexible authoritarianism' in many contexts but vitally important for understanding burning questions provoked by Russia's 2022 war on Ukraine and responses to it from within Russia, particularly those of younger people. * Nancy Ries, Professor of Anthropology, Colgate University * Why citizens submit to the limits on personal freedoms that characterize collective life under conditions of authoritarianism is a puzzle that scholars of this regime type frequently confront. Anna Schwenck's concept of 'flexible authoritarianism' provides an answer. No political regime is completely authoritarian-rather, it usually provides its members with opportunities for autonomy as well as the imposing constraints. Deftly reasoned and engagingly written, her analysis contributes substantially to the study of authoritarian governments while providing a nuanced account of totalitarianism in action. As authoritarian governments flourish, Schwenck's work will no doubt stand as an essential source. * Mabel Berezin, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for European Studies, Cornell University * Why is Putin's regime so popular? Anna Schwenck's Flexible Authoritarianism helps solve this puzzle. Focusing on the Russian government's approach to youth, Schwenck's study reveals key mechanisms that help the regime build a loyal cadre. With insightful analysis grounded in unique fieldwork inside Russian government-sponsored summer camps in Russia's far-flung regions, this important book sheds new light on the sources of stability for authoritarian regimes. * Valerie Sperling, Clark University *

This is a truly excellent and original work of cultural and political sociology, asking questions profoundly important for understanding the legitimation, acceptance, and enthusiasm for 'flexible authoritarianism' in many contexts but vitally important for understanding burning questions provoked by Russia's 2022 war on Ukraine and responses to it from within Russia, particularly those of younger people. * Nancy Ries, Professor of Anthropology, Colgate University * Why citizens submit to the limits on personal freedoms that characterize collective life under conditions of authoritarianism is a puzzle that scholars of this regime type frequently confront. Anna Schwenck's concept of 'flexible authoritarianism' provides an answer. No political regime is completely authoritarian-rather, it usually provides its members with opportunities for autonomy as well as the imposing constraints. Deftly reasoned and engagingly written, her analysis contributes substantially to the study of authoritarian governments while providing a nuanced account of totalitarianism in action. As authoritarian governments flourish, Schwenck's work will no doubt stand as an essential source. * Mabel Berezin, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for European Studies, Cornell University *

Author Information

Anna Schwenck, Teacher of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences at Siegen University, Germany

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