Blurring Boundaries in a ‘Cyber-Greater China’: Are Internet Bulletin Boards Constructing the Public Sphere in China?

Abstract

Traditional ‘unifying media’ deliver an authoritative discourse and thus ‘assemble and sustain nations with real-time theatre’ according to Nguyen and Alexander (1996: 108). On the other hand, the ‘conversation model’ and autonomy associated with computer-mediated communication (CMC) provides an alternative ‘persuasive discourse’ which challenges the authoritative discourse and ‘provides the subject with a language for dialogue’ (van Dijk, 2000; Mitra, 2001:32). Thus the decentralized nature of internet media may thaw the hegemonic control over public dialogue by dominant media and empower citizens. Internet bulletin boards and other interactive online communities may create a new sphere for public meeting and discussions, a potential for reunifying people and renewing revitalizing ‘citizen-based democracy’ (Rheingold, 1993).