China's changing state-society relations in the internet age: Case study of Zhao Zuohai

Recently we have witnessed information and communications technologies (ICTs) playing an important role in facilitating the so-called Arab Spring or Jasmine Revolution in authoritarian regimes. The revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests that has occurred in the Middle East and North Africa since late December 2010 has given rise to the most current research on ICT-mediated democratic development. Although there is no actual Jasmine Revolution-like political transformation taking place in China, the Chinese Party-State regime is, however, encountering an ever-increasing challenge and counterforce from ICT-empowered grassroots movements. These movements are frequently rising to defend their legitimate rights, pressuring the authorities to be more responsible, transparent, and accountable. Taking the Zhao Zuohai incident as a case study, this article argues that China's state-society relations are in transition due mainly to rising Internet-enabled social forces; including social and political dissents and movements. The Chinese Party-State is being compelled to adapt itself to the new dynamic informational environment and to establish a new mode of public governance to both accommodate new social forces and strengthen its governing legitimacy in the Internet age.