The Architecture of Control: a Chinese Strategy for e-Governance

Abstract

The rapid development of the Peoples' Republic of China has put increasing strains on an overwhelmed administrative and bureaucratic structure that was already hobbled by persistent inefficiency and corruption. In addition to anti-corruption and professionalization campaigns, the government has devised a system of e-governance with the goal of adding stability and order to a chaotic governing process. This includes re-establishing the control of the governing authorities, including improving the quality of surveillance and data gathering and hence policy-making; the elimination of corruption; and ultimately, the re-legitimation of the Communist Party of China. This paper discusses the critical administrative and political problems facing the government, demonstrates ways in which e-government has been designed to meet these, and discusses the problems presented by a reliance on e-government in a developing country.

Political determinants of e-government performance revisited: Comparing democracies and autocracies

“…The national e-government programs in our analysis are run by central government agencies, while governance duties lie primarily in the hands of local bureaucrats. Bureaucratic agents can be bypassed by centralizing parts of their competencies within national e-government portals, restraining the opportunity structures for power misuses (Andersen, 2009;Kluver, 2005). Control of bureaucracy is enhanced by integrating officials into a standardized electronic framework.…”

“…But in which contexts and when do they proactively shape their online policies? Apart from some autocracies like China that invented their model of strategic internet development early (Kalathil & Boas, 2003;Kluver, 2005), sophisticated authoritarian internet governance is a relatively new phenomenon on a global scale. For example, some research suggests that the autocratic rulers in Tunisia and Egypt underestimated the challenge that social media represented for the persistence of their regimes (Göbel, 2013, p. 386;Heydemann & Leenders, 2011, p. 649).…”

Flatter world and thicker walls? Blogs, censorship and civic discourse in China

“…The Chinese government has also pursued a nationwide e-government strategy: using online mechanisms for citizen feedback, complaints and suggestions, etc. as part of a strategy to bolster regime legitimacy (Kluver 2005a). Forums, chatrooms and blogs also serve as a "safety valve" by allowing enough room for a sufficiently wide range of subjects that people can let off steam about government corruption or incompetence, thus giving people more things to do with their frustrations before considering taking their gripes to the streets.…”

E-government in China: deployment and driving forces of provincial government portals

“…E-government is also viewed as an important tool to transform public administration in China; specifically, as outlined in various government reports and policies, it is expected to improve government efficiency, promote government transparency and accountability, reduce government bureaucracy and corruption, and improve public service. Strengthening the central government's surveillance of or control over lower levels of government and increasing the accuracy of the information needed to improve policy-making are two particular goals of Chinese e-government (Kluver, 2005).…”