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Cited by 125China's Socioeconomic Reforms and GovernanceCorruption and Economic DevelopmentPolitical Conflict and Governance

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 71 of the 72 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Concealing Corruption: How Chinese Officials Distort Upward Reporting of Online Grievances

PAN, JENNIFER, CHEN, KAIPING·2018·American Political Science Review
DOI 10.1017/s0003055418000205
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Abstract

A prerequisite for the durability of authoritarian regimes as well as their effective governance is the regime’s ability to gather reliable information about the actions of lower-tier officials. Allowing public participation in the form of online complaints is one approach authoritarian regimes have taken to improve monitoring of lower-tier officials. In this paper, we gain rare access to internal communications between a monitoring agency and upper-level officials in China. We show that citizen grievances posted publicly online that contain complaints of corruption are systematically concealed from upper-level authorities when they implicate lower-tier officials or associates connected to lower-tier officials through patronage ties. Information manipulation occurs primarily through omission of wrongdoing rather than censorship or falsification, suggesting that even in the digital age, in a highly determined and capable regime where reports of corruption are actively and publicly voiced, monitoring the behavior of regime agents remains a challenge.

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Citations

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Show all 72 references

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. 2013, Zuixin Dang de Xuanchuan Gongzuo Caozuo Fangfa yu Chuangxin Shiwu [Latest Guidelines and Procedures on How to Perform Propaganda Work]
  2. Mai, 2015, Web Tracking with Chinese Characteristics.”, 65th Annual International Communication Association Conference
  3. 2015, Freedom in the World 2015: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties
  4. 2009, Wangluo Yuqing Xinxi Gongzuo Lilun yu Shiwu
  5. Zhan, 2011, Study of the Relationship Between Cadre Promotion and Career Path.”, Human Resources Development of China, 7, 75
  6. Yan, 2010, The Unbalance Political Trust Distribution between Central Government and Local Government in China.”, The Journal of Gansu Administration Institute, 3
  7. Li, 2012, Zhengfujian Wangluo Zhili: Chuizhi Guanli Bumen Yu Difang Zhengfujian Guanxi Yanjiu
  8. 2013, OECD e-Government Studies: Egypt 2013

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Metadata

Authors
PAN, J., & CHEN, K.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
  • PAN, JENNIFER
  • CHEN, KAIPING
ORCID
Venue
American Political Science Review
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2018-06-06
Volume
112
Issue
3
Pages
602-620
ISSN
  • 0003-0554 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5943
DOI
10.1017/s0003055418000205
OpenAlex
W2805967013
Cited by
125
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2
FWCI
33.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • American Political Science Review (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Corruption and Economic Development
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
Keywords
citizen complaints, patronage networks, information manipulation, omission, censorship, Chinese officials, citizen participation

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