This book presents a cross-regional comparative study of the role of capital cities and urbanization in the rise of authoritarianism. It explores the multiple ways in which authoritarian regimes have been attempting to build and sustain long-term dominance, drawing on six diverse case studies from Africa and Asia. A timely book to understand processes of urban control in the rapidly urbanizing developing world. Taking six capital cities as key spaces of political action, the book provides a trenchant analysis of how authoritarian regimes enmesh urban citizens, repress/prevent dissent among others by co-opting key actors and sections of society, to ensure political domination and authoritarian durability.