Directed Digital Dissidence in Autocracies: How China Wins Online (Oxford Studies in Digital Politics) - Brossura

Gainous, Associate Dean Of Undergraduate Studies Jason; Han, Associate Professor Of International Affairs Rongbin; MacDonald, Assistant Professor Of Social Science Andrew W; Wagner, Professor And Department Chair In Political Science Kevin M

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0197680399 ISBN 13: 9780197680391

Casa editrice: Oxford University Press, USA, 2023

Riassunto

Does the Internet fundamentally change the flow of politically relevant information, even in authoritarian regimes? If so, does it alter the attitudes and behavior of citizens? While there is a fair amount of research exploring how social media has empowered social actors to challenge authoritarian regimes, there is much less addressing whether and how the state can actively shape the flow of information to its advantage. In China, for instance, citizens often resort to "rightful resistance" to lodge complaints and defend rights. By using the rhetoric of the central government, powerless citizens may exploit the slim political opportunity structure and negotiate with the state for better governance. But this tactic also reinforces the legitimacy of authoritarian states; citizens engage rightful resistance precisely because they trust the state, at least the central government, to some degree.

Drawing on original survey data and rich qualitative sources, Directed Digital Dissidence in Autocracies explores how authoritarian regimes employ the Internet in advantageous ways to direct the flow of online information. The authors argue that the central Chinese government successfully directs citizen dissent toward local government through critical information that the central government places online--a strategy that the authors call "directed digital dissidence". In this context, citizens engage in low-level protest toward the local government, and thereby feel empowered, while the central government avoids overthrow. Consequently, the Internet functions to discipline local state agents and to project a benevolent image of the central government and the regime as a whole. With an in-depth look at the COVID-19 and Xinjiang Cotton cases, the authors demonstrate how the Chinese state employs directed digital dissidence and discuss the impact and limitations of China's information
strategy.

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Oxford University Press, USA
• Data di pubblicazione: 2023
• ISBN 10: 0197680399
• ISBN 13: 9780197680391
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Lingua: Inglese
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile