Dr Ana Langer, Dr Hua Wang and Professor Jane Duckett, University of Glasgow

Wednesday 7 December 2022 at 4–5.30pm

Location: in person, Room 139, 25 Bute Gardens, University of Glasgow and online. Registration at: https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYocOysqzoiE9NEyywQougNPC3eZXRCbxg5

Abstract

We still know surprisingly little about when and why governments respond to changes in opinion expressed on social media, and even less about when and why they respond with policy change. This lack of understanding is particularly surprising for authoritarian systems, and especially for China, given the greater attention that has been paid to the potential political effects of social media in autocracies. So far, studies about China have focussed on single cases or events, such as scandals and natural disasters, and on government acknowledgement of online feedback. Although insightful, neither type of study can explain if and why governments do – and sometimes do not – respond to opinion in social media by changing policy. Our paper, based on systematic analysis of comprehensive social media and policy datasets, shows that the public’s opinions expressed on micro-blogging site Sina Weibo influenced both national and local government changes in policies to combat COVID-19. Although the authorities dominated much social media discussion, when netizens focussed on a single issue that was in line with policy priorities, the authorities sometimes responded with narrowly-focussed, low-cost policies that did not require significant intra-bureaucratic coordination. We find that social media discussions can lead to policy change via two routes: when a single post ‘goes viral’, and when many netizens’ posts aggregate over a short period to create a peak of salience. Posts may be more likely to go viral and affect policy if they have video content and are reposted by mainstream media or non-governmental organisations.

Biographies

Ana Ines Langer is a Senior Lecturer in Political Communication. Her current research focuses on the roles played by different types of media in the policy making process. Her work has focused mostly on the UK but has also done research about Chinese political communication.  

Jane Duckett is Edward Caird Chair of Politics at the University of Glasgow. Her current and recent research has focussed on health policy and politics in China, and her publications include The Chinese State’s Retreat from Health: Policy and the Politics of Retrenchment (2011). 

Hua Wang is a Tutor in Politics and researcher in the Scottish Centre for China Research. Her research focuses on State-business relations and policy process in China.

 

The Scottish Centre for China Research Seminar Programme gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the MacFie Bequest.

For more details on the SCCR Seminar Series: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/sccr/events/

First published: 7 December 2022

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