Cities and Stability

China''s management of urbanization is an under-appreciated factor in the regime''s longevity. The Chinese Communist Party fears "Latin Americanization" -- the emergence of highly unequal megacities with their attendant slums and social unrest. Such cities threaten the survival of nondemocratic regimes. To combat the threat, many regimes, including China''s, favor cities in policymaking. Cities an...