《Journal of Current Chinese Affairs》专题刊——“数字中国：技术、治理与社会重塑”
随着互联网和社交媒体的兴起，数字技术深刻融入社会的各个领域。近年来，中国已成为全球数字创新的领导者，从人工智能（AI）、物联网（IoT）到社交媒体和电子商务，其技术进步不仅重塑国内社会，也影响全球科技格局。然而，现有研究多聚焦于数字技术的政治和经济应用，而对其如何塑造社会结构、治理模式和公共生活的理解仍存不足。本专题旨在探讨中国数字化转型的深远影响，涵盖技术对治理、社会互动、经济体系及全球数字发展的重塑。
摘要提交截止日期：4月25日
Call for Papers: Special Issue of Journal of Current Chinese Affairs on "Digital China: Technology, Governance, and the Reshaping of Society"
Guest Editor
Dechun Zhang (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) & Wenting Yu (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
The rise of the internet and social media has profoundly shaped society’s transition into the digital age, integrating information and communication technologies into all aspects of life, including home, work, education, and recreation (Katzenbach & Bächle, 2019). In recent years, China has emerged as a global leader in digital innovation, driving transformative changes across various sectors. From artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to social media platforms and e-commerce ecosystems, China’s digital advancements are reshaping not only its domestic society but also influencing global technological landscapes. These technologies are now deeply embedded in daily life, fundamentally altering communication, work, governance, and entertainment. Their rapid adoption has redefined social interactions (Bennett & Segerberg, 2012), access to information (Jiang, 2014), and participation in economic and political activities (Wang, Hu & Xiong, 2024; Yang, 2009).
Despite these profound transformations, significant gaps remain in understanding how digital technologies—beyond their political and economic applications—are reshaping the foundational structures of society, governance, and public life. While much research has examined the use of digital technologies in propaganda and online participation, broader inquiry is needed to understand their wider societal impact. How do innovations such as AI, IoT, big data, digital platforms, and algorithmic decision-making shape social organization, governance models, and economic structures? How do digital infrastructures—from social media and e-commerce to cloud computing and blockchain—redefine everyday life, influencing work, education, culture, and leisure? Furthermore, as China continues to play a leading role in the development and deployment of these technologies, understanding their domestic and global implications is essential. How are China’s digital advancements shaping international technological trends, regulatory frameworks, and global digital governance? This special issue seeks to address these questions by examining the transformative power of digital technologies and their far-reaching consequences for governance, social interaction, and public life in China.
This special issue will critically explore the dynamic interplay between digital technology and society in China, assessing both the opportunities and challenges of the country’s digital transformation. Contributors are encouraged to investigate these shifts through interdisciplinary perspectives, drawing on insights from communication, governance, politics, culture, law, and beyond. With a particular focus on how digital technologies are reshaping governance structures, propaganda tactics, societal norms, economic systems, and everyday life, this inquiry aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these profound changes. By centering on technology’s role in transforming society, this special issue will contribute to a deeper understanding of how China’s digital innovations are not only reshaping its own landscape but also influencing global digital developments.
Scope and Themes
This special issue examines the profound impact of digital technology on society, governance, and public life, with a focus on China’s rapid digital transformation. As technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data reshape daily life, their influence on political, economic, and social structures is equally significant. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of China’s evolving digital society, its global influence, and the challenges it presents for governance, online participation, policy, and culture. We welcome both empirical studies (qualitative, quantitative, computational, and mixed-methods) and theoretical contributions addressing various aspects of the digital society. Contributors are invited to explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:
§ Digital Governance & State Control
§ AI, Big Data & Surveillance
§ Digital Propaganda & Nationalism
§ Online Activism & Political Participation
§ Digital Authoritarianism & International Propaganda
§ Cultural Transformation & Social Media
§ E-commerce & Smart Cities
§ Data Protection & Privacy Laws
§ Digital Health & Healthcare Technology
§ Technology & Social Inequality
§ Technology & Environmental Surveillance
§ Ethics of AI & Digital Technologies
Proposed Key Dates
§ Abstract Submission: April 25, 2025
§ Notifications about invitations to submit full papers: May 16, 2025
§ (Invitations to submit a full paper do not guarantee final publication, as full manuscripts will undergo the journal’s usual peer review process).
§ Submission of full paper: October 30, 2025
Please submit your abstract (maximum 500 words) in English to both guest editors, Dechun Zhang (dzha@hum.ku.dk) and Wenting Yu (wentingyui@gmail.com), with the subject line: "JCCA Special Issue Submission."
Note: The special issue is scheduled for publication in August 2026. Individual papers will be made available online as soon as they are accepted and copyedited. JCCA is a platinum open-access journal, meaning all articles are automatically open access with no charges for either authors or readers. For more information about the journal, refer to https://journals.sagepub.com/author-instructions/CCA.
References
Bennett, W. L., & Pfetsch, B. (2018). Rethinking political communication in a time of disrupted public spheres. Journal of Communication, 68(2), 243–253.
Jiang, M. (2014). Search concentration, bias, and parochialism: A comparative study of Baidu, Jike, and Google’s search results from China. Journal of Communication, 64(6), 1088–1110.
Katzenbach, C., & Bächle, T. C. (2019). Defining concepts of the digital society. Internet Policy Review, 8(4).
Wang, J., Hu, Y., & Xiong, J. (2024). The internet use, social networks, and entrepreneurship: evidence from China. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 36(1), 122–136.
Yang, G. (2009a). The Power of the Internet in China: Citizen Activism Online. Columbia: Columbia University Press.
