Why Are Some Chinese Nationals Supporting Government Censorship?

• In Event: Authoritarian Propaganda & Censorship

Abstract

While the effects of government censorship are widely explored in the literature, most works on government censorship have assumed a nature intention for citizens to seek freedom of speech in authoritarian regimes. However, citizens in authoritarian regimes may actually support government censorship due to various reasons. In this study, I explore the potential reasons of citizen's support towards government censorship in China among Chinese nationals both domestic and abroad. Also, I will investigate individual's willingness to self-censor and the types of censorship one would likely to give consent to. Adopting a mixed methodology design consisting of an online survey experiment, a cross-national online survey and a semi-structured qualitative interview, I examine the following factors of interest: (1) personal experience of government censorship, (2) personal pursuit of democracy as an ideal form of government, and (3) the political environment experienced by individuals. The preliminary analysis based on the Seventh Wave of World Value Survey data shows a negative relationship between the personal pursuit of democracy as an ideal form of government and one’s support of government censorship. The pursuit of ideal democracy is also demonstrated to be a more consistent predictor of support towards censorship compared to political ideology, when compared across countries.

Author

• Ziyi Wu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology