Chinese Politics on the Internet: a Case Study of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei

Chinese Politics on the Internet: A Case Study of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei


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      Fall 2014














Politics of the Internet: Pluralism in the Digital Age
      The global community has embraced high rate of technological advancement. It is evidenced that the level of acquisition and access to internet based services has increased, many people are not only able to afford multi-media computers but also able to access information from virtual networks through their phones. This has greatly improved the way people interact and communicate socially through social media like Sinaweibo and Facebook among other media (Caywood, 2011). Conversely, it could be stated that effects of social media and broadband communication systems have also enhanced change in political and economic practices both in China and globally. The new geopolitical super power, Republic of China has also been swept by the internet and communication development. Being ranked the second largest economy within the global scope, with a population of 1.3 billion people according to statistics conducted in 2011; China is characterised by more internet users comparatively to Western Europe (Bauman, 2011).
      Research indicates that information technology is viewed as harbingers of cosmopolitan age, but what is China’s view on the same? Despite the fact that internet encourages education and user awareness, Chinese case is perceived to have different perception to digitised systems (Cheng, 2013). In spite to the diversification in the Chinese digital age, it has not ended showcased one-party rule, an authoritarian leadership. Technological changes have not enhanced peaceful or pluralism in digital technology within public sphere as envisioned by liberal scholars (Davis, 2008). However, based on Chinese politics; Communist Party and incumbent government adopted propaganda mechanism and sophisticated censorship in steering public opinion....