This presentation investigates the paradoxical absence of widespread anti-regime protests in China despite high internet penetration and conditions that should facilitate mobilization according to Tilly's Resource Mobilization Theory. Focusing on China's digital landscape, this study re-evaluates the mobilization theory in the digital age. Through analyzing three aspects of China's digital control strategy including Narrative Control, Entertainment-Based Social Control, and Online Surveillance, the author argue that in the digital age, authoritarian regimes have evolved from relying on overt repression to adopting digital tools for governance and management -- while the fundamental logic of resource mobilization theory remains valid, China, on the other hand, has developed sophisticated methods to disrupt these processes within the online sphere, and information control has emerged as an increasingly important mechanism of state power. This presentation aims to provide new analytical insights into the mechanisms of contemporary authoritarianism, revealing how digital stratedies intertwines with traditional traditional governance practices to enhance authoritarian resilience.

Authors:
Xuguorong Jiang, University College London, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Xuguorong Jiang completed her MSc in Security Studies at University College London. Her research focuses on digital politics, authoritarianism, and cyber warfare in East Asia. Her current work involves the impact of digital literacy on political behavior.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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