The Co-evolution of the Internet and Civil Society in China

Civil society and the Internet energize each other in their co-evolutionary de- velopment in China. The Internet facilitates civil society activities by offering new possibilities for citizen participation. Civil society facilitates the develop- ment of the Internet by providing the necessary social basis—citizens and citi- zen groups—for communication and interaction. These arguments are illustrated with an analysis of the discourse in Qiangguo Luntan (Strengthening the Nation Forum) and an ethnographic study of Huaxia Zhiqing (Chinese Edu- cated Youth), . Does the Internet contribute to China's democratization and civil society development? Answers to this question are typically ambiv- alent. The short history of the Internet and the lack of sufficient empirical evidence make it hard to spell out an unambiguous case. The ambivalence is also due to the way in which the research question is posed. Historically, technology has changed human societies, and it is reasonable to ask what this new technology does to Chinese society today. Yet, this is only one side of the coin. Technology is used by members of society; its diffusion and use depend on social conditions. The conditions of society, in other words, shape technological development. This article asks instead: how do the Internet and civil society in China interact in ways that shape the development of both? It argues that Chinese