Page 59 - Feasibility Study of New Media Technology on Constructing Online Public Sphere

Chapter 2. Literature review

With a specific purpose in mind, the organisers of social movements have to create new

events or use existing events to challenge the regime or normalised practices, but there
are structural constraints and conditions that promote or hinder the movements, such
as accumulated resources and government policies (Beissinger, 2002). Zheng (2008,
p.136) stated that if a collective action or social movement is considered to impede the
legitimacy of the state or pose a threat to the authority, it invites a crackdown or sup-

pression by the state, but if the movement is perceived to be beneficial to the state, it is
more likely to succeed (ibid). Given the context in China, since protests in the physical
space are under strict surveillance and sometimes dangerous, the internet becomes an

attractive medium for the organisation and practices of similar actions (Tai, 2006). An
evident change is that the government now holds a relatively tolerant attitude towards
online protests, partly because they are less likely to pose real threat to the regime and
the stability of society, and partly because of the difficulties in detecting and eliminat-
ing gatherings in cyberspace (ibid, p.291).

Apart from the distinction in space, online activism differs from real-world pro-
tests in dynamics and form. There are no particular forms of online activism because
internet users react to all issues, be they political or societal, as long as they involve

injustice, grievance or inequality, whereas protests in physical spaces usually aim at
one specific issue or topic. Neither is there a clear rule to indicate whether protests or
gatherings in cyberspace are legal or illegal. All these properties put forward challenges
to the government in controlling online public participation. As Xiao (2011) has argued,
the emerging patterns of public opinion and civic engagement make it relatively easy

to mobilise wide public participation to promote awareness of civic rights, freedom of
expression and governmental accountability.

2.5.3.2 Challenges and control

The internet also functions as a new form of association in which intellectual
websites and intellectual groups emerge. Zhou (2006) identified that the internet ena-
bles Chinese intellectuals to expand the space in which they exchange views and foster
vibrant discussion. They have switched from regularly published academic journals

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