China as a Double-Bind Regulatory State: How Internet Regulators’ Predicament Produces Regulatees’ Autonomy

Ma, Aifang

This book explores the dynamics of the Chinese regulation of internet firms. Sitting at the crossroad of regulation studies, communication studies, political economy, and the social movements, it conceptualises China as a “double-bind regulatory state”, defined as a two-step autonomy-enabling process. First, the party-state’s pursuit of competiting objectives creates a predicament for regulators. In the second step, private internet firms consciously exploit regulators’ predicament to enlarge their maneuvering room. The approach of “double-bind regulatory state” challenges some current academic accounts that exaggerate the capacity of the Chinese party-state to establish seamless control. This book is of interest to scholars of Chinese politics, digital law, political economy, and more.

Details

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Publication Date: 2024-03-09

Format: Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9789819988563

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-8857-0

Dimensions: 210cm x148cm

Pages: 371