Institutionalization of the Revolution: Post-revolutionary Generational Transition in Communist Autocracies

Why have some communist regimes persisted into the twenty-first century while others have collapsed? This paper examines regime resilience by analyzing leadership succession in two of the five remaining communist states: China and Vietnam. Drawing on comparative historical analysis, it introduces the concept of “revolutionary regency,” a mechanism of generational transition that enables the gradual and voluntary withdrawal of revolutionary elders from formal authority while allowing their strategic intervention during moments of crisis. This process simultaneously reinforces leadership norms and ensures regime stability. Theoretically, the theory-building exercise contributes to the study of authoritarian durability by highlighting how revolutionary regency serves as a key mechanism underpinning the resilience of post-revolutionary communist regimes.