The 'authoritarian determinism' and reductionisms in China-focused political communication studies

This commentary article posits the term 'authoritarian determinism' to describe a persistent and general problem with the current trend of China-focused political and communication theory, which emphasizes the centrality of the 'repression-resistance' axis in the formation of China's political communication sphere, and identifies three related forms of reductionism ('event-based', 'conflict-focused', and 'internally homogeneous' perspectives) that characterize contemporary Chinese political communication studies. Based on this framework, this study examines how we might move beyond the abovementioned perspectives and rethink the relationships between the party state, various media actors' representations of political issues, and individuals' everyday civic discussions and engagements in contemporary China.