China's Efforts to Dominate Information: Domestic, International, and Global Applications of Information Control
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Date
2014-06-04
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
This thesis explores and analyses China’s internal and external information control capabilities, as well as China’s quest to influence Internet governance. China’s external espionage, IP theft, and network manipulation is researched in parallel to its ‘peaceful rise’ rhetoric. The paper finds that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses these capabilities to stimulate continued economic growth, and that these actions are based in resentment for past Western behavior. The image of ‘peaceful rise’ does not completely contradict China’s information theft and sabotage. Analysis shows this paradox of action and word is a reflection of disagreement at the highest levels of the CCP. The second chapter studies China’s internal information control. Within China’s national borders, the CCP carries out pervasive propaganda, censorship, and control efforts, including who has online access; what they can access, and what their personal communications content is. One goal of this information control and propaganda is to nurture a passionate nationalism to increase political and social stability. These methods to influence and their results are explored to determine if these efforts are successful. Chinese nationalism does add legitimacy to the CCP regime, but does not increase social stability. Furthermore, the study discovered a bottom-up nationalism that is committed to improving their motherland, yet does not attract strong CCP support. The third chapter looks at China’s current push to influence Internet governance. In light of the Snowdon revelations, distrust of US oversight of ICANN has increased, especially due to its present US Department of Commerce oversight. This paper looks at scholarly discussions about Internet governance, specifically the multi-stakeholder model, including the present culture of the current Internet governance (IG). It compares Internet governance models, including the top-down strong government control model China advocates. This paper finds the Internet must be governed by a technically specialized array of people, business, and organizations to continue innovation and speedy communications. Too much government influence will hamper the Internet’s capabilities. IG must focus on retaining a multi-organization, multi-stakeholder model, while seeking to educate developing nations on the economic advantages of an open Internet, and welcoming government influence in specific areas, such as capacity building and information sharing in key areas.
Thesis advisor: Professor Dorothea Wolfson
Thesis reviewers: Professor Ken Masugi and Dr. Yoonho Kim
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Keywords
China, Information control