A successful Leninist strategy for the internet - Jeremy Goldkorn

Jeremy Goldkorn

The cat and mouse game between China's internet users and its government is well documented. But who is winning the struggle is less clear. According to internet watcher Jeremy Goldkorn the government has won, he explains in GlobalPost.

The Global  Post:

“The strategy has always been to make sure that the voices that are approved by the government are the loudest and clearest and easiest to hear — on all platforms,” says Jeremy Goldkorn, a Chinese media expert in Beijing. “That’s Leninist media strategy adapted to the modern age.” 

In its ceaseless campaign to control dissent in China, officials have made clear they are no longer content with simply trying to censor and police online writings; they want to guide the debate as well... 

“I think the government has now completely caught up with the Weibo age,” says Goldkorn. “They’ve succeeded in dominating Weibo just like they do every other type of media, or at least having enough control so that it doesn’t get out of hand.”

More in the Global Post.

Jeremy Goldkorn is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.

Failing foreign firms is the subject of tomorrow's China Weekly Hangout (Wednesday 30 January, on 10pm Beijing Time, 3pm CET and 9pm EST; mostly we gather on Thursday's). Participating are Richard Brubaker and Andrew Hupert; moderation by Fons Tuinstra. Interested? Read our official announcement, or visit our event page here for registration of leaving your questions. Some of the subjects on our agenda: What did Caterpillar and Media Markt do wrong? Is Apple the Blackberry of China? Will CoolPad win the smartphone wars? Will KFC survive its food scandal?

You can visit our China Weekly Hangout archive here.

In a China Weekly Hangout in November Steven Millward of Tech in Asia and Fons Tuinstra of the China Speakers Bureau discussed the global aspirations of China's internet companies.