The Role of ICTs in Adaptive and Persistent Authoritarianism: A Study of China at the Administrative Division Level

This study examines how the Chinese government adapts to the challenges posed by information and communication technologies (ICTs) by strengthening state capacity. Using secondary data, we quantitatively examine the relationship between ICT infrastructure and usage, public service delivery, and political control across 30 first-level administrative divisions in China. The results show that, on the one hand, administrative divisions with well-developed ICT infrastructure and high social media penetration are more likely to receive better public service than those with under-developed ICT infrastructure and low social media penetration. On the other hand, administrative divisions with good ICT infrastructure are found most likely to be subjected to greater political control. Furthermore, the government's provision of public services positively correlates to its implementation of political control. Such correlation seems to be stronger among the divisions with advanced ICT development than among the rest.