The Art of Storytelling in Authoritarian Regimes: Crafting Mainstream Consensus on Chinese Social Media

All authoritarian regimes attempt to construct a mainstream consensus to shape public opinion. Similarly, the Chinese government has actively managed online information flows to dominate the battlefield of public opinion in cyberspace. While much is known about strategies to create a mainstream consensus, less attention has been given to how this consensus is constructed.

In this online webinar, Ting Luo of the University of Birmingham will introduce the theoretical framework of “event-based narratives” to analyze pro-regime messages by opinion leaders on Chinese social media. Luo’s research shows that the construction and dissemination of mainstream consensus in China’s cyberspace varies depending on the nature of the events. For domestic events, the mainstream consensus centers on the image of benevolent leadership, while for international events, it focuses on collective national identity. In state-initiated events, the government is able to craft and coordinate responses that highlight positive aspects, whereas in unexpected events, finding a scapegoat and shifting blame is the preferred solution. This research sheds new light on consensus-building and dissemination in both propaganda and political campaigns, within and beyond authoritarian contexts.

This event is co-sponsored by the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues and the Department of Government.

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