Transformation of Public Communication of Government and Citizens in China and Russia in the Context of Digitalization

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to identifying and characterizing the main trends in the transformation of public communication between government and citizens through digital media in China and Russia. The dynamics of state policies regarding the use of social media as an information and communication resource for solving pragmatic management tasks, forming the image of authorities, and developing a dialogue with the population is traced. Methods and Materials. As a methodological basis for the study, the conceptualizations of the public sphere within the framework of a critical approach (J. Habermas, H. Arendt), the sociocultural tradition of interpreting communication, the ideas on the power and strength of Internet communications in the “network society” by M. Castells, and the theoretical foundations of communication management are used. Analisys. Three stages in the development of social media authorities in China are identified and presented. The specifics of public communication between the authorities and users of various services (Weibo, WeChat, and TikTok) are characterized based on their technological capabilities (affordances). Results. The social effects obtained from the widespread use of digital media by the Chinese government are indicated. The political and socio-cultural foundations of the emerging state policy regarding the use of social networks as a resource for public communication between the government and society in Russia are shown. The key challenges and tasks that need to be solved for the successful development of a public dialogue between the authorities and the population through digital media and the formation of the social media capital of the state in China and Russia are fixed. Authors’ contribution. Wei Zhang prepared an analysis of the transformations in the use of digital media by the government in China. L.S. Pankratova outlined the theoretical and methodological framework of the study, presented the Russian case, translated materials on the case of China into Russian and carried out general scientific editing of the article.