What are Appropriate Normative Frameworks to Analyze The Political Effects of the Internet in China?

The political effects of the Internet in China are one of the most important and oft studied topics in both communications and Asian studies. However, these efforts suffer from a lack of appropriate theoretical frameworks, due to a lack of geocentric theories and the dominance of theories generated in a Western context. This paper argues that normative frameworks should be grounded in their context of application and take into account how individuals participate in and think about politics. Based on these principles and drawing from relevant data and literature, this article puts forward three suggestions about how the currently dominant normative frameworks could be improved: welfare and economic progress should be recognized as important normative goals, facilitating the watchdog function of citizens under existing structures is a worthy objective, and building community, rather than striving for rationality, may result in more productive political speech in currently individualized online spaces.