Understanding Power through Watergate uses the Watergate Affair as a case to highlight the Washington collective power dynamic. Author Tian-jia Dong argues that formal state institutions only work effectively when they are embedded in social dynamics. Academics in the fields of political science, American history, and sociology will find great interest in this book, as well as people involved in the political process. This work will also be a valuable supplement to graduate and undergraduate political science and sociology courses.

"Dong's book has the merit of underscoring how informal networks are important to understanding political struggle, especially in a time of crisis." - American Journal of Sociology