Online Political Efficacy as a Predictor of Online Collective Rights Defense Engagement in China

Abstract

Existing literature argues that Chinese online social media cultivates active political participants and enables citizens to organize anti-foreign activities to put pressure on the government in international crises. Yet, little is known about whether and how online social media weakens public political engagement in such activities. This paper investigates the effect of selective framing of anti-foreign protests in Chinese social media on public attitudes to political participation. Using original survey experimental data, this study finds that students exposed to news reports on xenophobic protests with an emphasis on negative consequences become significantly less nationalistic, and more unwilling to participate in anti-foreign activities. However, data questions the 'rally around the flag' effect: students do not give more support to foreign policy while 'doing as the government says.' Further study provides two explanations: damage-oriented framing of anti-foreign protests strengthens students’ preference for stability, and creates fear of isolation. The findings imply that social media could be used as a tool by autocratic government to stabilize the regime in international crises. This research contributes to the study of ICTs management in autocracies, and sheds light on the Chinese state-society interactions in international crises.