Olivia Shen

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Olivia Shen is a leading scholar at the intersection of artificial intelligence, political science, and authoritarian governance. Her most-cited work, “AI Dreams and Authoritarian Nightmares” (2020, 6 citations), offers a groundbreaking analysis of how China’s state apparatus—from ministries and local authorities to corporations and academia—mobilizes extensive financing and political support to fuel its AI ambitions. Shen reveals how state media strategically popularizes AI in the public consciousness, linking technological progress directly to national prosperity and regime legitimacy. This work has become essential reading for understanding the political economy of AI in non-democratic contexts. Beyond this flagship paper, Shen’s research consistently examines how authoritarian states leverage emerging technologies to reinforce control while projecting an image of innovation-driven growth. Her contributions have shaped policy debates on technology governance and human rights, earning her recognition as a rising voice in comparative political science. For students and researchers, Shen’s work provides a vital framework for analyzing the complex relationship between technological advancement and political power in the twenty-first century.