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Revisiting Media Effects in Authoritarian Societies

Author

Listed:
  • Jie Lu

    (Department of Government, American University, Washington, DC, USA)

  • John Aldrich

    (Department of Political Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA)

  • Tianjian Shi

    (Department of Political Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA)

Abstract

We argue that, to effectively understand media effects in authoritarian societies, researchers must assess different types of media strategies adopted by authoritarian leaders. Using survey data from two Chinese cities, we examine the effects of two types of media strategies adopted by the Chinese government, targeting political attitudes and nonpolitical values and norms, respectively. Following a new line of research, we contrast China’s domestic-controlled media to foreign free media. After accounting for the selection bias in Chinese urbanites’ media access, we do not find sufficient evidence for the effect of the media strategies directly targeting their democratic conceptions. However, sufficient and robust evidence shows that more intensive consumption of diverse media sources, including foreign media, does significantly but indirectly counteract the Chinese government’s political campaigns targeting its citizens’ democratic conceptions, via thwarting the government’s media strategies to cultivate a collectivistic norm in the society.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Lu & John Aldrich & Tianjian Shi, 2014. "Revisiting Media Effects in Authoritarian Societies," Politics & Society, , vol. 42(2), pages 253-283, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:42:y:2014:i:2:p:253-283
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329213519423
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chun-Fang Chiang & Jason M. Kuo & Megumi Naoi & Jin-Tan Liu, 2020. "What Do Voters Learn from Foreign News? Emulation, Backlash, and Public Support for Trade Agreements," NBER Working Papers 27497, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Zhenhua Su & Qian Zhou & Yanyu Ye & Dongxiao Li, 2021. "How the media construct happiness under cultural perspective in China: Through collectivistic and individualistic values," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(6), pages 2619-2639, November.
    3. John James Kennedy & Haruka Nagao & Hongyan Liu, 2018. "Voting and Values: Grassroots Elections in Rural and Urban China," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 90-102.
    4. Yue Yin, 2022. "Understanding democratic perceptions and political participation among the younger generation in China's changing society: No news is good news for the Chinese government," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(5), pages 1168-1189, September.
    5. John James Kennedy & Haruka Nagao & Hongyan Liu, 2018. "Voting and Values: Grassroots Elections in Rural and Urban China," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 90-102.
    6. Siyu Song & Minwei Ai, 2025. "Internet use, support for democracy and political participation: a comparative study of Chinese mainland and Taiwan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.

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