John Wagner Givens. “Advocates Of Change In Authoritarian Regimes: How Chinese Lawyers And Chinese And Russian Journalists Stay Out Of Trouble.” American Political Science Association 2011 Annual Meeting Paper, 2011.
This article offers a comparative analysis of how Chinese lawyers, Chinese journalists, and Russian journalists advocate for political change within authoritarian regimes while avoiding severe repression. Rather than measuring their success in achieving reform, the study focuses on the strategies these actors use to navigate authoritarian constraints and reduce personal risk.
Among the most notable tactics used by Chinese lawyers is the “cross-jurisdiction” strategy, which involves taking on cases outside their home region to avoid pressure from local authorities. This approach allows them to sidestep localized retaliation, although it is not without limits, especially as local officials escalate their methods of suppression. Russian journalists, by contrast, do not use this strategy due to the centralized nature of the Russian state and the different mechanisms of control in place.
The study also highlights how lawyers differ from journalists in their capacity for self-censorship. While journalists frequently adjust their language or delay publication to avoid sanctions, the legal nature of lawyers’ work affords less flexibility for such tactics. Despite these differences, all groups rely on “embeddedness” strategies—building protective networks to gather information and shield themselves from state or private retaliation.
In backsliding democracies, this research shows that lawyers remain key actors in the struggle for political change. Their role is shaped not only by law but by the broader authoritarian environment, which demands careful navigation, strategic positioning, and reliance on informal networks to persist.