Internet and Activism in Urban China: A Case Study of Protests in Xiamen and Panyu

Abstract

Studies on the Internet in China mainly focus on issues at the macro level, like state control, democracy or human rights. Few studies have examined the role of the Internet in collective contention from the meso- and micro-level. Guided by the theories of contentious politics and based on documentary data such as news reports, online diaries of participants and postings from homeowners' online forums, this paper examines the role of the Internet in environmental activism in the Xiamen and Panyu cities. It proposes a typology of functional significance of the Internet to collective action as: (1) an information-disclosure platform; (2) a discussion platform; (3) a mobilization structure; and (4) a facilitator in locating external allies. This paper also studies the interplay between online and offline activism and the broader media–political context, and highlights the evolving mechanisms through which the Internet works to contribute to the development of collective resistance. It argues that the seemingly ostensible influence of the Internet has been exaggerated; the Internet's capacity of mobilization at the early stages is rather limited. The state Internet censoring system continues to exert its control, as have the media environment and offline political context, such as public complaint channels and traditional political control measures.

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