When the Internet meets collective action: The traditional and creative ways of political participation in China

Abstract

With the rapid development and wide popularity of the Internet, Chinese people have acquired a revolutionary channel to mobilize collective action and to participate in politics. In order to depict the various factors influencing online collective action in China, and to further explore the dynamic interaction between the Chinese authorities and the public in this new era of collective action, the article attempts to integrate the demand-supply model with relevant studies from both China and abroad to make a systematic analysis of the demand, supply and mobilization of Chinese online activism. The impact of the new communication technology on political participation and the political ecology is discussed and questions are raised for future research.

Chinese seafarers’ use of the Internet and social media to promote labor rights

“…Taking advantage of the professional networks and rapid message dissemination enabled by social media, Chinese seafarers spontaneously participated in collective mobilization in response to unfair treatment. This is consistent with the characteristics of online activism in China as suggested by the previous literature (Tang et al, 2016b;Xue and van Stekelenburg, 2018;Yang, 2009). The two cases demonstrated that the Internet and social media provide social spaces for Chinese seafarers to expand their social networks and form online professional communities, which affords them new resources, such as mutual support and solidarity, to exercise agency.…”

“…It can be understood as "connective action" (Bennett and Segerberg, 2012: 739). This finding is consistent with the major characteristics of online activism in China-spontaneous, unorganized and involving the production and sharing of personally expressive content via social media (Tang et al, 2016b;Xue and van Stekelenburg, 2018;Yang, 2009).…”

“…As the Internet aids community building and significantly reduces the costs of producing content, and acquiring and disseminating information (Castells, 2007;Wellman, 2001), it facilitates online collective action by promoting collective identity and helping to spread messages and attract participants (Garrett, 2006). This is also the case Tang in China (Tang et al, 2016a;Xue and van Stekelenburg, 2018;Yang, 2009). However, unlike online activism in Western societies which tends to be organized and coordinated by resourceful organizations, in China, it largely takes the form of what Bennett and Segerberg (2012) refer to as "connective action," characterized by spontaneous and unorganized activity in the form of producing and sharing personally expressive content via social media (Tang et al, 2016b;Xue and van Stekelenburg, 2018;Yang, 2009).…”

A Probe Into the Psychological Mechanism of Generation Z College Students Using Network Buzzwords in the Internet Era

“…Network buzzwords with positive emotions can inspire the spirit of college students and promote their thinking. In contrast, negative emotions damage the thinking of students, causing depression and even desperation, which seriously affects the learning and lives of students ( Weng, 2018 ; Xue and van Stekelenburg, 2018 ).…”

Does social integration matter for cohort differences in the political participation of internal migrants in China?

“…In Maoist China (1949China ( -1976, the party-state was a powerful force that could organize and control the lives of people from the womb to the grave (Yao & You, 2018). Due to the thorough penetration of paternalistic government and the lack of formal channels for expressing political appeals, political participation in China has long been considered inefficient and alienated (Xue & van Stekelenburg, 2018). Kent Jennings (1997) points out that political participation in China is frequently characterized as informal and atomistic, driven by particularistic rather than collective goals.…”