Authoritarian Deliberation: Public Deliberation in China Min Jiang (Ph.D. Purdue) Assistant Professor Communication Studies UNC-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28269 E-mail: mjiang3@uncc.edu

Deliberative Poll in Zeguo, 2005 “ The public is smart. Under the right conditions, it’s smart in China just like it’s smart in Britain or smart in Bulgaria.” -- James Fishkin (2005) In Zeguo township, residents voice their opinions in Deliberative Poll plenary session. (Photo: Jeffrey Prescott)

“ The public is smart. Under the right conditions, it’s smart in China just like it’s smart in Britain or smart in Bulgaria.”

-- James Fishkin (2005)

Key Questions Can public deliberation take place in less democratic countries? Do countries have to be democratized first in order to achieve public deliberation? If the pursuit of better policy making, civic and political participation is not limited to Western societies, in what ways can less democratic societies benefit from deliberative theories? How can the deliberative experiences in other parts of the world inform and enrich the theories of public deliberation in the West?

Can public deliberation take place in less democratic countries?

Do countries have to be democratized first in order to achieve public deliberation?

If the pursuit of better policy making, civic and political participation is not limited to Western societies, in what ways can less democratic societies benefit from deliberative theories?

How can the deliberative experiences in other parts of the world inform and enrich the theories of public deliberation in the West?

Overview Define public deliberation Analytical and social aspects Authoritarian deliberation US and Chinese public deliberation Offline Online Conclusion

Define public deliberation

Analytical and social aspects

Authoritarian deliberation

US and Chinese public deliberation

Offline

Online

Conclusion

Define Public Deliberation Gastil & Black (2008) “ When people deliberate, they carefully examine a problem and arrive at a well-reasoned solution after a period of inclusive, respectful consideration of diverse points of view” (p.2) Analytical : problem-solution model (Dewey, 1910) Social : equality, rights, respect, emotions Types of public deliberation in the West Informal conversations, media & public opinion, government decision making, public meetings, elections, juries, communities

Gastil & Black (2008)

“ When people deliberate, they carefully examine a problem and arrive at a well-reasoned solution after a period of inclusive, respectful consideration of diverse points of view” (p.2)

Analytical : problem-solution model (Dewey, 1910)

Social : equality, rights, respect, emotions

Types of public deliberation in the West

Informal conversations, media & public opinion, government decision making, public meetings, elections, juries, communities

Public Deliberation Graph Media & Business Government Juries, Gov Decision Making Civil Society Informal Political Discussions, Communities Media & Public Opinion Election, Multilateral Deliberation Public Meetings

Authoritarian Deliberation He (2006) Top leaders are not elected Deliberation under one-party domination Arguments and reasoning – communicative action – solve collective problems Types of public deliberation in China Informal conversations, media & public opinion, government decision making, public meetings, village elections, communities

He (2006)

Top leaders are not elected

Deliberation under one-party domination

Arguments and reasoning – communicative action – solve collective problems

Types of public deliberation in China

Informal conversations, media & public opinion, government decision making, public meetings, village elections, communities

Informal Conversations National Issues Forum Public Forum Institute Huaxia Zhiqing Net Xici Hutong Net

National Issues Forum

Public Forum Institute

Huaxia Zhiqing Net

Xici Hutong Net

Media and Public Opinion 1 Indymedia Ourmedia Strengthening the Nation Forum Hunan Red Net

Indymedia

Ourmedia

Strengthening the Nation Forum

Hunan Red Net

Media and Public Opinion 2 – Chinese Blogs Douban 9 o’clock Antiwave Don’t Think Antiwave YouTube Interview

Douban 9 o’clock

Antiwave

Don’t Think

Antiwave YouTube Interview

Government Decision Making U.S. Congressional discourse Court decision making China - Blogs National People’s Congress (NPC) Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference

U.S.

Congressional discourse

Court decision making

China - Blogs

National People’s Congress (NPC)

Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference

Public Meetings America Speaks 21 st Century Town Hall Meetings Deliberative Opinion Polls (Fishkin) Politicopia Utah China Local deliberative institution (He, 2005) Citizen evaluation meeting Beijing Legislative bill comments

America Speaks

21 st Century Town Hall Meetings

Deliberative Opinion Polls (Fishkin)

Politicopia Utah

China

Local deliberative institution (He, 2005)

Citizen evaluation meeting

Beijing Legislative bill comments

Observations Chinese civil society and media are dominated by government, and increasingly commercial influence Chinese public deliberative institutions tend to be voluntary, dispersive, and less institutionalized Deliberative goals: better policies, and more accountable government Offline and online deliberative platforms and interactions Institutional exchange of public deliberation between U.S. and China

Chinese civil society and media are dominated by government, and increasingly commercial influence

Chinese public deliberative institutions tend to be voluntary, dispersive, and less institutionalized

Deliberative goals: better policies, and more accountable government

Offline and online deliberative platforms and interactions

Institutional exchange of public deliberation between U.S. and China

Conclusion Emerging empirical evidence of public deliberation in China Public deliberation is a passage to increased political participation and civil liberties in China Public deliberation to be nourished alongside other democratic institutions Societal and institutional changes to employ a variety of strategies to facilitate citizens’ participation in local and national affairs The project of public deliberation to broadened to account for complex realities

Emerging empirical evidence of public deliberation in China

Public deliberation is a passage to increased political participation and civil liberties in China

Public deliberation to be nourished alongside other democratic institutions

Societal and institutional changes to employ a variety of strategies to facilitate citizens’ participation in local and national affairs

The project of public deliberation to broadened to account for complex realities