Digital Public Sphere and Ordinary Knowledge in China. A sociological Analysis of two Public Controversies (Demographic and Epidemic Policies)

Yao Li

soutiendra publiquement sa dissertation 

Digital Public Sphere and Ordinary Knowledge in China. 

A Sociological Analysis of Two Public Controversies (Demographic and Epidemic Policies)

  pour l'obtention du grade de Doctorat en Sciences politiques et sociales 

le lundi 30 juin 2025 à 14h 

au Doyen 22

Abstract 

In China, the social media platforms have become a crucial arena for public opinion exchange. Although China is not a "democratic" state, digital public spheres have provided Chinese civil society with unprecedented opportunities for discussion. Habermas' theory posits that the public sphere aims to encourage communicative exchanges, thereby fostering communicative rationality and democratic participation. However, if the public sphere operates improperly, it may also lead to polarization and hinder the formation of communicative rationality.
In order to explore the use of digital public spheres, this inquiry focused on debates on population policy and COVID-19 prevention and control. Based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of discourse, the study reveals that the development of the digital public sphere has enabled participants to engage in extensive and in-depth debates. The intercrossing reference between ordinary knowledge and scientific discourses is under close scrutiny. Scientific discourse undergoes significant changes when used in ordinary discourse. This may be one of the reasons contributing to viewpoint polarization. Consequently, the knowledge structure embedded in public social networks is an issue that the sociology of knowledge should now seriously consider. The findings of this study not only offer a new perspective for understanding the operation of the digital public sphere within China's specific context but also provide a fresh vantage point for future research in the sociology of knowledge.
 

Membres du jury 

Prof. Jean De Munck (UCLouvain), copromoteur et secrétaire du jury    
Prof. Grégoire Lits (UCLouvain), copromoteur
Prof. Françoise Bartiaux (UCLouvain)
Prof. Andrea Catellani (UCLouvain), président du jury
Prof. Mengni Chen (University of Copenhagen, Danemark)
Prof. Albin Wagener (Université de Lille, France)