Mobile phones, social ties, and collective action mobilization in China

Jun Liu

doi:10.1177/0001699316660596

Mobile phones, social ties, and collective action mobilization in China

Jun Liu

Institut for Kommunikation

4 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

To provide a better understanding of mobile phones as a recruitment tool in collective actions, this study explores the use of mobile phones for mobilizing protest in China. Using in-depth interviews and investigating four cases in which Chinese people employed mobile devices to recruit participants for protests, this study observes that mobile communication in China embodies guanxi, the indigenous social tie in Chinese society that introduces reciprocity as an influential facilitator of collective actions. The embedment of reciprocity facilitates the proliferation of mobilizing calls, legitimizes mobilizing appeals, generates obligations and consolidates solidarity for collective actions. The study concludes with a consideration of the relevance of mobile phones for the embedment of reciprocity in social ties in the mobilization of collective action in authoritarian regimes such as China.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Acta Sociologica
Vol/bind	60
Udgave nummer	3
Sider (fra-til)	213–227
Antal sider	15
ISSN	0001-6993
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/0001699316660596
Status	Udgivet - 1 aug. 2017

Emneord

Det Humanistiske Fakultet

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10.1177/0001699316660596

Citationsformater

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abstract = "To provide a better understanding of mobile phones as a recruitment tool in collective actions, this study explores the use of mobile phones for mobilizing protest in China. Using in-depth interviews and investigating four cases in which Chinese people employed mobile devices to recruit participants for protests, this study observes that mobile communication in China embodies guanxi, the indigenous social tie in Chinese society that introduces reciprocity as an influential facilitator of collective actions. The embedment of reciprocity facilitates the proliferation of mobilizing calls, legitimizes mobilizing appeals, generates obligations and consolidates solidarity for collective actions. The study concludes with a consideration of the relevance of mobile phones for the embedment of reciprocity in social ties in the mobilization of collective action in authoritarian regimes such as China.",

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AU - Liu, Jun

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N2 - To provide a better understanding of mobile phones as a recruitment tool in collective actions, this study explores the use of mobile phones for mobilizing protest in China. Using in-depth interviews and investigating four cases in which Chinese people employed mobile devices to recruit participants for protests, this study observes that mobile communication in China embodies guanxi, the indigenous social tie in Chinese society that introduces reciprocity as an influential facilitator of collective actions. The embedment of reciprocity facilitates the proliferation of mobilizing calls, legitimizes mobilizing appeals, generates obligations and consolidates solidarity for collective actions. The study concludes with a consideration of the relevance of mobile phones for the embedment of reciprocity in social ties in the mobilization of collective action in authoritarian regimes such as China.

AB - To provide a better understanding of mobile phones as a recruitment tool in collective actions, this study explores the use of mobile phones for mobilizing protest in China. Using in-depth interviews and investigating four cases in which Chinese people employed mobile devices to recruit participants for protests, this study observes that mobile communication in China embodies guanxi, the indigenous social tie in Chinese society that introduces reciprocity as an influential facilitator of collective actions. The embedment of reciprocity facilitates the proliferation of mobilizing calls, legitimizes mobilizing appeals, generates obligations and consolidates solidarity for collective actions. The study concludes with a consideration of the relevance of mobile phones for the embedment of reciprocity in social ties in the mobilization of collective action in authoritarian regimes such as China.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - mobile communication

KW - collective action mobilization

KW - social tie

KW - reciprocity

KW - China

KW - guanxi

U2 - 10.1177/0001699316660596

DO - 10.1177/0001699316660596

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0001-6993

VL - 60

SP - 213

EP - 227

JO - Acta Sociologica

JF - Acta Sociologica

IS - 3

ER -

Mobile phones, social ties, and collective action mobilization in China

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