Analysis Of State-society Relations In Online Civic Participation

The reform and opening up results in transformation of social structure in China. An unprecedented vivid society is gradually separating itself from the state and trying to make its voice heard in all kinds of fields, which leads to relative independence and larger living space. T he state-society rela tions are constantly d econstructing and constructing in this process.In recent years, the wid e spread of th e Internet becomes a new variate of the state-society relations. On the one hand, with a bottom line on safety of ideology, the state works hard to provide e-governm ent affairs. It tries to im prove governance by online political practice of governments and administrative institutions of all levels. On the other hand, multiple social forces actively make use of the Internet to interact with the state for self-interest. It can be s een that the Internet prov ides an effective platform that links the state and society.This paper aims to explore the state-society relations under the new condition of the Internet. To elaborate, it takes online civic participation in the issue of haze as the object, uses “process-event” analysis and virtual ethnography to exam ine the development logic and application of strate gies in online civic participation, and the possibility and direction of the state-society relations in this process.On the development logic, this paper st udies how interaction between the state and society begin and develop in three sections: “Problematize and passively involved: haze becomes a public agenda,” “Pass the buck an d call to account: gam e around the responsibility of haze,” and “Colla boration and conflict: the issue of haze fades out.” On the application of strategi es, it studies the in teractions among the society and between the state and s ociety, focusing on how the interactions become possible. Based on these two studies, the final chapter draws a conclusion on possible forms of state-society relations in online civic participation.It is concluded that in the interaction, the state and society are mutually dragged and involved into the issue which is full of uncertainty and creation. Generally, this process can be called a benign interaction, but the details in it are the keys to understand the state-society relations.First, the re sult of interaction shows that online civic participation ef fectively improves the progress of public policy and social life. However, the appeals and promotions in the Internet ca nnot take part in practical process of haze abatement. If system of public participation isn't sound or exist in realit y, the state will have lar ge room of operation.Second, the society takes adva ntage of huge social pressu re from wide range of online discussion to urge the state to pay cl ose attention to the problem of haze. But the strong ability of the state on control ling the Internet leads to lim itation and vulnerability of online civic participation.Finally, differences exist in both the state an d the society. This m eans that situations are various when exam ining the relations on different levels of the state. Meanwhile, due to limita tion on education, media literacy, social status and other factors, most people in the bottom of society cannot gain enough space in online civic participation. On this base, the interac tion between the state and soc iety, and th e consequent social change are inevitably tendentious.