Creating Democratic Citizens: Political Effects of the Internet in China

Abstract

This study explores the perplexing role of the Internet in authoritarian settings. We disentangle the political impact of the Internet along two distinct dimensions, indirect effects and direct effects. While the direct effects of the exposure to the Internet shape political attitudes in a manifest and immediate way, the indirect effects shape various political outcomes via instilling fundamental democratic orientations among citizens. In authoritarian societies such as China, we argue the indirect effects of the Internet as a value changer tend to be potent, transformative and persistent. But the direct effects of the Internet as a mere alternative messenger are likely to be markedly contingent. Relying on the newly developed method of causal mediation analysis and applying the method to data from a recent survey conducted in Beijing, we find strong empirical evidence to support our argument on the two-dimensional impacts of the Internet on authoritarian nations.

The Internet, political trust, and regime types: a cross-national and multilevel analysis

“…By lowering information costs, the Internet can bring attitudinal changes by exposing citizens to alternative sources of information (Breuer and Groshek, 2014; Tang and Huhe, 2014; Ruijgrok, 2017). Specifically, Internet use was found to be associated with greater citizen commitment to democratic norms (Nisbet et al ., 2012) – many democratically oriented citizens are created as they engage in the Internet age (Huhe et al ., 2018). Individuals who use government websites also tend to demand greater openness, transparency, and responsiveness from the authorities (Welch et al ., 2005).…”

“…Such raised expectations of government openness and transparency are often harder to meet in authoritarian regimes and are therefore likely to reduce citizens' trust in political institutions and the regime. With a stronger commitment to democratic norms and embracing democratic values, citizens in closed regimes naturally aspire for political changes, and reject the incumbent regime (Huhe et al ., 2018).…”

“…To sum up, the Internet has become an essential space for developing new citizenship (Rimmerman, 2010;Huhe et al, 2018). It provides tools for concerned citizens, so that extensive discussion, negotiation, and consensus building can take place with relatively low cost.…”

Distrust in Government and Preference for Regime Change in China

“…Internet use is measured by a six-level scale, ranging from “never” to “almost daily” (see Appendix 1). Current studies find that people who use the Internet more often have a stronger distrust in the central government (Chen, 2019; Huhe et al, 2018; Lyu and Li, 2018; Tang and Huhe, 2014).…”

Internet Use and Democratic Satisfaction in Egypt after Five Years of the 2011 Revolution

“…Thirdly, the Internet has been deemed a democratic value changer since it cultivates fundamental democratic values among citizens and hence "nurtures democratic citizenry that does not sit well with authoritarian politics" (Huhe et al, 2018). Relatedly, online media have been playing liberating roles in modern politics since they made political communication and organization easier, enabling ordinary citizens to challenge authoritarian regimes (e.g., Diamond, 2010;Kendzior, 2011;Miswardi, 2015).…”