Digital Participation in China and the Environment

This research project examined the implications of digitalization for public participation in a non-Western context, namely China. First, the project analyzes participation patterns; second, it compares digital and non-digital forms of participation; and third, it investigates the factors influencing the choice between institutional and extra-institutional participation. The findings show that a surprisingly large share of Chinese citizens engage with new ICT-based participatory platforms, with digital technologies demonstrating significant participatory potential even under restrictive conditions. While citizens appear to be aware of the risks associated with using ICTs, these risks do not seem to hinder participation. However, the findings suggest the existence of a digital participation opportunity gap that may exclude less digitally skilled and tech-savvy individuals. Furthermore, citizens with personal grievances are more likely to use institutional channels, whereas broader environmental concerns are more often addressed through extra-institutional channels. Overall, these results contribute to the debate on digital authoritarianism and the opportunities and limitations of ICTs for (environmental) participation in non-democratic contexts. The findings are based on an online survey with nearly 3,000 participants in China.

Prof. Dr. Wiebke Rabe

Rabe, W., Bondes, M., Abels, C. and Kostka, G. (2025). Public participation in China’s state-created ICT spaces: Explaining participation patterns, Regulation & Governance (online first). Abailable at: https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.70090

Guo, D., Bondes, M., Kostka, G. and Rabe, W. (2025). In or outside the box? Citizen action between institutional and extra-institutional channels in Chinese environmental governance, Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning (online first). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2024.2423804

Bondes, M., Kostka, G. and Rabe, W. (2024). 'ICT-based environmental participation in China: Same, same but digital?', Environmental Science & Policy, 154. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103688