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Genia Kostka

Biographic Data

ID382974
NAMEGenia Kostka
GIVEN NAMESGenia
FAMILY NAMEKostka
SIGNATUREKOSTKA G
AFFILIATIONSFreie Universität Berlin
ORCID0000-0002-3696-9513
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS44
TOTAL CITATIONS369
AUTHOR COUNT43
EDITOR COUNT1
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2012
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX10
  • Reassurance and pride

    Open Access•Yang Yan, Danqi Guo et al.•ARTICLE•International Political Science…•2026

    As digital surveillance becomes routine governance, how do states publicly legitimize expansive monitoring? Using China as a case, we analyze 8,096 Weibo posts from verified government and state-media accounts about Skynet and Sharp Eyes. Combining topic modeling, narrative coding, and emotion annotation, we identify four narrative families—Livelihood and Security, Governance, Information Disclosure, and National Pride—and their affective profile…

  • Emotional attachment to AI chatbots

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Hui Zhou•ARTICLE•Technology in Society•2026

    Chatbots are the top choice for secret sharing for 20.94% of 7,027 respondents • Over 35% of respondents are emotionally attached to chatbots such as befriending them • Emotional attachment is more prevalent in China and South Africa • Emotional attachment is influenced by multiple factors, including perceived support • Emotional attachment strongly correlates with user dependence

  • Divergent Pathways to “Digital China”

    Open Access•Yang Yan, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Journal of Contemporary China•2026

    The ‘Digital China’ initiative sets an ambitious vision for national digital transformation, yet provincial priorities vary widely. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), this article examines when Chinese provincial governments prioritize digitalization. It shows that provincial digital agendas are shaped not simply by central directives, but by the interaction of policy incentives, local leadership, and regional capacity. Onl…

  • Public Participation in China's State‐Created ICT Spaces

    Open Access•Wiebke Rabe, Maria Bondes et al.•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2025•References: 33

    It has become commonplace for non‐democratic regimes to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) into their governance system. However, how citizens make use of these new digital opportunities in an authoritarian setting remains understudied. Based on an online survey in China in 2021, we find that a surprisingly large share of Chinese citizens engages with the new ICT‐based participatory venues. But ICTs seem to unfold their p…

  • Becoming transparent and feeling helpless

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Asian journal of social science•2025•References: 5

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries, including China, deployed digital surveillance technologies as part of broader social governance strategies. While these technologies offered certain benefits, their widespread application also posed risks, including algorithmic bias and privacy infringement. This study examines critical discussions (or critiques) on Chinese social media concerning various problems induced by algorithmic surveilla…

  • Knowing Is Disturbing

    Open Access•Danqi Guo, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Perspectives on Politics•2025•References: 49

    Digital technologies have transformed the way governments around the world maintain social and political order. However, the intrusive and often repressive nature of modern political control mechanisms, such as digital surveillance and digital censorship, is largely concealed from the public and becomes “normalized” by state propaganda, particularly in authoritarian regimes. Engaging with the political psychology literature on emotion, we examine…

  • Listening to an Authoritarian Neighbor

    Open Access•Ming Ma, Daniil Romanov et al.•ARTICLE•Political Research Quarterly•2025•References: 36

    Authoritarian states actively engage in cross-border propaganda. While the effects and the narratives of this propaganda targeting democracies have been studied in the past, little attention has been paid to how sudden and significant geopolitical events influence the engagement of authoritarian propaganda in other like-minded states. This study closes the gap by looking at Russia’s propaganda in Chinese social media platform Weibo. We look at ho…

  • The Expanding Digital Reach of the Chinese State

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Anton Bogs•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2025•Cited by: 4•References: 84

    Drawing on recent cases of digital technology adoption in China, this paper investigates changes in the digital reach of the Chinese state. We focus first on state capacity, a key dimension of state reach, and show that the adoption of digital technologies by central and local governments has increased coercive, administrative, and extractive capacity. We also examine the state's intrusiveness and show that digitalizing governance and regulatory …

  • Mirrors and Mosaics

    Open Access•Ming Ma, Daniil Romanov et al.•ARTICLE•Perspectives on Politics•2025•Cited by: 2•References: 95

    Authoritarian states are intensifying bloc-building efforts. While the authoritarian regionalism literature suggests that membership in these “clubs of autocrats” can bolster domestic support for authoritarian leaders, such external recognition can also pose challenges, especially when aligning with “toxic” authoritarian partners. We argue that authoritarian regimes attempt to solve this problem by crafting strategic narratives and communicating …

  • Women's Work

    Open Access•Xinhui Jiang, Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Government and Opposition•2025•Cited by: 1•References: 49

    While comparative research on gender and politics has produced a sizable literature on the appointment of women to cabinet positions in democracies, we know surprisingly little about appointment practices in authoritarian contexts at subnational levels. We address this gap with the resumés of 3,681 political appointees in subnational China (2003–2020). Our analysis reveals that subnational Chinese politics meets most of the criteria scholars put …

  • Perceptions of social credit systems in Southeast Asia

    Open Access•Wiebke Rabe, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Global Policy•2024

    Digital data have become a valuable resource for autocratic governments seeking to influence societal behaviours. The rise of social credit systems in China has garnered a great deal of attention, with some even referring to them as ‘Orwellian’ surveillance systems. This study expands on previous research that has found surprisingly high levels of acceptance of social credit systems in China to the Southeast Asian region. Through an online opinio…

  • Chinese citizens’ digital engagement with local mobile government platforms

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Global Media and China•2024

    Local governments worldwide are increasingly adopting mobile government (m-government) platforms to offer more accessible and convenient public services and to advance digital governance. China has been at the vanguard of this trend, with substantial investments and promotion of m-government platforms by its provincial and municipal governments. This study investigates how individual Chinese citizens engage with various local m-government platfor…

  • ICT-based environmental participation in China

    Open Access•Maria Bondes, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Science & Policy•2024•Cited by: 6•References: 29

    Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been credited with the potential to alter the dynamics of environmental governance by empowering citizens, enhancing accountability and improving government efficiency. However, in non-democratic contexts the link between ICTs and public participation is far from clear. Taking the case of China, this study investigates urban Chinese citizens’ use of digital technologies for environmental part…

  • Navigating the digital age

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Media Culture & Society•2024•Cited by: 4•References: 21

    Rapid digitalization and an aging population are leading to an increasingly prominent age-based digital divide among the world’s elderly population. This study focuses on China, one of the most rapidly aging and digitalizing countries in the world. Employing a mixed-method approach, this research examines how elderly individuals experience the digital transformation and the associated digital divide. The findings suggest that the elderly intervie…

  • Emotions, crisis, and institutions

    Open Access•Danqi Guo, Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla et al.•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2024•Cited by: 7•References: 99

    Amid the COVID‐19 pandemic, citizens' compliance with government preventive measures was one of the top policy priorities for governments worldwide. This study engages with socio‐legal and psychological theories on compliance and proposes an analytical framework to explore the role of different psychological factors on individual‐level compliance during global health crises. Using the results of three national surveys, we argue that various negat…

  • The Covid-19 pandemic and deepening digital inequalities in China

    Open Access•Qinglong Shao, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Telecommunications Policy•2023

    As Internet usage reshapes our societies, digital inequalities have increased over the past few decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries accelerated their digital transformation processes, and it is widely believed the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened existing inequalities in the digital realm. Yet, few studies have empirically examined whether digital inequalities in the labor market increased during the pandemic. This analysis studie…

  • Sharing is caring

    Open Access•Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Information Communication & Society•2023

    Are citizens more willing to share private data in (health) crises? We study citizens' willingness to share personal data through COVID-19 contact tracing apps (CTAs). Based on a cross-national online survey with 6,464 respondents from China, Germany, and the US, we find considerable variation in how and what data respondents are willing to share through CTAs. Drawing on the privacy calculus theory and the trade-off model of privacy and security,…

  • Provinces in Command

    Open Access•Xinhui Jiang, Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Journal of Contemporary China•2023•References: 7

    China’s ‘Xi-Li era’ is said to be defined by both the concentration of power in the center and the strengthening of Party authority. In this paper, we ask whether these trends have been evident in local appointment practices since Xi Jinping took office in 2013. By comparing the career histories of 3,682 prefectural mayors and Party Secretaries under the Hu-Wen and Xi-Li administrations, we find that while appointment practices have shifted, the …

  • No county is an island

    Open Access•Xinhui Jiang, Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Regional Studies•2023•Cited by: 1•References: 8

    Why are China’s notoriously competitive local governments increasingly cooperating with each other? Combining interjurisdictional cooperation data from 820 counties and fieldwork in 24 localities, we argue that the increasing trend of inter-county cooperation is the newest manifestation of China’s state-rescaling initiative. It is the combined result of the state’s devolution of governance responsibilities and competitive-minded local cadres’ int…

  • Accepting but not engaging with it

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Policy & Internet•2022

    Over the past decade, China's central and municipal governments have consistently supported the development of social credit systems (SCSs). While research has highlighted the Chinese public's high approval and backing of SCSs, their engagement with these digital projects has not been fully explored. Based on 44 semi‐structured interviews, our research examines Chinese citizens' digital participation in government‐run SCSs at the local level. Our…

  • In times of crisis

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla•ARTICLE•New Media & Society•2022•Cited by: 11•References: 9

    The adoption of COVID-19 contact tracing apps (CTAs) has been proposed as an important measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. Based on a cross-national dataset, this article analyzes public perceptions toward CTAs and the factors that drive CTA acceptance in China, Germany, and the United States. We find that public acceptance of CTAs is significantly higher in China as compared with Germany and the United States. Despite very different socio…

  • China’s growing digital reach

    Open Access•Wiebke Rabe, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Review of International Political…•2022•References: 5

    Recent years have witnessed a rise in global investments in the digital economy. The growing digital reach of Chinese tech companies is responsible for at least part of this transformation. Yet, little is known about how host country citizens view China’s increasing stature in the digital sphere. Focusing on Chinese investments in mobile payment platforms (CIM), this article explains citizens’ levels of approval of Chinese outward investments in …

  • Under big brother's watchful eye

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Léa Steinacker et al.•ARTICLE•Government Information Quarterly•2022•Cited by: 7•References: 12

    Governments around the world are adopting facial recognition technology (FRT) to improve public services and law enforcement. Past research has shown that such applications may result in discriminatory effects and threaten privacy. This study shines light on the question of what drives public opinion regarding FRT in different socio-political contexts. Based on an online survey and semi-structured interviews, this study finds that citizens in Chi…

  • Information Control and Public Support for Social Credit Systems in China

    Open Access•Xu Xu, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•The Journal of Politics•2022•Cited by: 28•References: 31

    Critics see China’s social credit system (SCS) as a tool of surveillance and repression. Yet opinion surveys in China find considerable public support for the SCS. We explain this puzzle by focusing on citizens’ lack of knowledge regarding the repressive nature of digital surveillance in dictatorships, which can be attributed to (1) invisible and targeted repression associated with digital surveillance and (2) government propaganda and censorship…

  • Between security and convenience

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Léa Steinacker et al.•ARTICLE•Public Understanding of Science•2021

    How does the public perceive facial recognition technology and how much do they accept facial recognition technology in different political contexts? Based on online surveys resembling the Internet-connected population in China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, our study finds that facial recognition technology enjoys generally highest acceptance among respondents in China, while acceptance is lowest in Germany, and the United …

Next
  • Command without control

    Open Access•Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2016•Cited by: 74•References: 21

    In the existing literature there is general agreement that the effectiveness and efficiency of command and control instruments versus market‐based instruments is highly context specific. A country's particular regulatory environment and state capacity, as well as the features of given environmental problems, play an important role in ascertaining what the “right” set of policy instruments for environmental management might be. This article examin…

  • Tightening the grip

    Genia Kostka, Chunman Zhang•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2018•Cited by: 72•References: 23

    In the space of a few years, China's global image with regard to environmental matters has significantly improved. Particularly since Xi Jinping's coming-to-power in 2012 China's reputation in the global climate change regime has improved markedly and it has gained accolades for a new determination to reverse environmental degradation at home. China's incipient green transformation is partly due to a new actor constellation in environmental gover…

  • China’s social credit systems and public opinion

    Open Access•Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•New Media & Society•2019•Cited by: 49•References: 3

    A variety of commercial and local government social credit systems (SCSs) are now being implemented in China in order to steer the behavior of Chinese individuals, businesses, social organizations, and government agencies. Previous research finds that these SCSs are employed by the Chinese state as “surveillance infrastructure” and for social management. This article focuses on a different angle: the public’s opinion of SCSs. Based on a cross-reg…

  • Balancing Priorities, Aligning Interests

    Open Access•Tom Harrison, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Comparative Political Studies•2014•Cited by: 29•References: 24

    Debates about how to respond to climate change have largely focused on the difficulties in agreeing on national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By assuming that the main obstacle to emissions reduction lies in the inability to reach agreement internationally, the current debate underplays the challenges of building the state capacity that will be needed to ensure mitigation takes place. The implementation of mitigation strategies i…

  • Information Control and Public Support for Social Credit Systems in China

    Open Access•Xu Xu, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•The Journal of Politics•2022•Cited by: 28•References: 31

    Critics see China’s social credit system (SCS) as a tool of surveillance and repression. Yet opinion surveys in China find considerable public support for the SCS. We explain this puzzle by focusing on citizens’ lack of knowledge regarding the repressive nature of digital surveillance in dictatorships, which can be attributed to (1) invisible and targeted repression associated with digital surveillance and (2) government propaganda and censorship…

  • Wind and Solar Power in Brazil and China

    Kathryn Hochstetler, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Global Environmental Politics•2015•Cited by: 19•References: 6

    This article examines developments in the renewable electricity sector in Brazil and China since 2000. The two countries share many interests with respect to solar and wind power, but institutional differences in state–business relations led to different outcomes. In China, in a context of corporatist state–business relations, state interventions were more far-reaching, with the state coordinating with state-owned banks, offering large financial …

  • Environmental political business cycles

    Open Access•Xun Cao, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Science & Policy•2019•Cited by: 14•References: 25

  • Career Backgrounds of Municipal Party Secretaries in China

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Xiaofan Yu et al.•ARTICLE•Modern China•2015•Cited by: 14•References: 21

    This article examines the career backgrounds of municipal Chinese Communist Party secretaries between 1990 and 2011. Based on an analysis of 898 cadre biographies and 32 interviews with local government officials during 2011 and 2013, this article shows that the majority of municipal party secretaries had spent their careers working at the provincial and municipal levels, while only few advanced up from the county. Our analysis finds that obstacl…

  • Big Data Dreams and Reality in Shenzhen

    Open Access•Jelena Große-Bley, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Big Data & Society•2021•Cited by: 12•References: 42

    Chinese cities are increasingly using digital technologies to address urban problems and govern society. However, little is known about how this digital transition has been implemented. This study explores the introduction of digital governance in Shenzhen, one of China's most advanced smart cities. We show that, at the local level, the successful implementation of digital systems faces numerous hurdles in long-standing data management and bureau…

  • In times of crisis

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla•ARTICLE•New Media & Society•2022•Cited by: 11•References: 9

    The adoption of COVID-19 contact tracing apps (CTAs) has been proposed as an important measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. Based on a cross-national dataset, this article analyzes public perceptions toward CTAs and the factors that drive CTA acceptance in China, Germany, and the United States. We find that public acceptance of CTAs is significantly higher in China as compared with Germany and the United States. Despite very different socio…

  • Emotions, crisis, and institutions

    Open Access•Danqi Guo, Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla et al.•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2024•Cited by: 7•References: 99

    Amid the COVID‐19 pandemic, citizens' compliance with government preventive measures was one of the top policy priorities for governments worldwide. This study engages with socio‐legal and psychological theories on compliance and proposes an analytical framework to explore the role of different psychological factors on individual‐level compliance during global health crises. Using the results of three national surveys, we argue that various negat…

  • Under big brother's watchful eye

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Léa Steinacker et al.•ARTICLE•Government Information Quarterly•2022•Cited by: 7•References: 12

    Governments around the world are adopting facial recognition technology (FRT) to improve public services and law enforcement. Past research has shown that such applications may result in discriminatory effects and threaten privacy. This study shines light on the question of what drives public opinion regarding FRT in different socio-political contexts. Based on an online survey and semi-structured interviews, this study finds that citizens in Chi…

  • What makes for good and bad neighbours? An emerging research agenda in the study of Chinese environmental politics

    Eaton, Sarah Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2018•Cited by: 7•References: 56

    Tackling China’s grave environmental problems increasingly turns on questions of sub-national interjurisdictional relations. What are the conditions under which neighbouring localities cooperate in stewardship of the natural environment? What factors give rise to interjurisdictional conflict such as pollution spillovers? Through a combination of empirical and theoretical reflections, a research agenda to better understand these issues is outlined…

  • ICT-based environmental participation in China

    Open Access•Maria Bondes, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Science & Policy•2024•Cited by: 6•References: 29

    Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been credited with the potential to alter the dynamics of environmental governance by empowering citizens, enhancing accountability and improving government efficiency. However, in non-democratic contexts the link between ICTs and public participation is far from clear. Taking the case of China, this study investigates urban Chinese citizens’ use of digital technologies for environmental part…

  • The Expanding Digital Reach of the Chinese State

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Anton Bogs•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2025•Cited by: 4•References: 84

    Drawing on recent cases of digital technology adoption in China, this paper investigates changes in the digital reach of the Chinese state. We focus first on state capacity, a key dimension of state reach, and show that the adoption of digital technologies by central and local governments has increased coercive, administrative, and extractive capacity. We also examine the state's intrusiveness and show that digitalizing governance and regulatory …

  • Navigating the digital age

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Media Culture & Society•2024•Cited by: 4•References: 21

    Rapid digitalization and an aging population are leading to an increasingly prominent age-based digital divide among the world’s elderly population. This study focuses on China, one of the most rapidly aging and digitalizing countries in the world. Employing a mixed-method approach, this research examines how elderly individuals experience the digital transformation and the associated digital divide. The findings suggest that the elderly intervie…

  • From targets to inspections

    Genia Kostka, Coraline Goron•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2021•Cited by: 4•References: 24

    Using document analysis and fieldwork to analyse the issue of fairness in the implementation of China’s environmental and climate policy goals, we examine two top-down mechanisms put in place to steer implementation: binding environmental targets that have been allocated on different administrative levels since the 11th Five-Year Plan in 2011; and central environmental inspections, which have been rolled out across the country since 2016. The evi…

  • Embedded Interests and the Managerial Local State

    Genia Kostka, William Hobbs•ARTICLE•Journal of Contemporary China•2012•Cited by: 3•References: 8

    This paper analyzes the determinants of Chinese government support for methanol automobile fuel development. At the national level, a preference for low carbon alternatives, ongoing bureaucratic restructuring, and profitability concerns of the national oil companies (NOCs) help to explain a lack of support for methanol fuel. At the local level, a short-term and localized view of industry development explains why some governments actively promote …

  • Mirrors and Mosaics

    Open Access•Ming Ma, Daniil Romanov et al.•ARTICLE•Perspectives on Politics•2025•Cited by: 2•References: 95

    Authoritarian states are intensifying bloc-building efforts. While the authoritarian regionalism literature suggests that membership in these “clubs of autocrats” can bolster domestic support for authoritarian leaders, such external recognition can also pose challenges, especially when aligning with “toxic” authoritarian partners. We argue that authoritarian regimes attempt to solve this problem by crafting strategic narratives and communicating …

  • Women's Work

    Open Access•Xinhui Jiang, Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Government and Opposition•2025•Cited by: 1•References: 49

    While comparative research on gender and politics has produced a sizable literature on the appointment of women to cabinet positions in democracies, we know surprisingly little about appointment practices in authoritarian contexts at subnational levels. We address this gap with the resumés of 3,681 political appointees in subnational China (2003–2020). Our analysis reveals that subnational Chinese politics meets most of the criteria scholars put …

  • No county is an island

    Open Access•Xinhui Jiang, Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Regional Studies•2023•Cited by: 1•References: 8

    Why are China’s notoriously competitive local governments increasingly cooperating with each other? Combining interjurisdictional cooperation data from 820 counties and fieldwork in 24 localities, we argue that the increasing trend of inter-county cooperation is the newest manifestation of China’s state-rescaling initiative. It is the combined result of the state’s devolution of governance responsibilities and competitive-minded local cadres’ int…

  • Mobility and Agency

    Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•The China Journal•2012•Cited by: 1

  • Local Energy Efficiency Policy Implementation in China

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, William Hobbs•ARTICLE•The China Quarterly•2012

    This paper analyses Chinese sub-national governments’ implementation strategies to meet national energy efficiency targets in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006–2010). Previous research has focused on the ways governance practices and decision-making structures shape implementation outcomes, yet very little attention has been given to what strategies local leaders actually employ to bridge national priorities with local interests. To illustrate how lo…

  • Mobility and Agency

    Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•The China Journal•2012•Cited by: 1

  • Embedded Interests and the Managerial Local State

    Genia Kostka, William Hobbs•ARTICLE•Journal of Contemporary China•2012•Cited by: 3•References: 8

    This paper analyzes the determinants of Chinese government support for methanol automobile fuel development. At the national level, a preference for low carbon alternatives, ongoing bureaucratic restructuring, and profitability concerns of the national oil companies (NOCs) help to explain a lack of support for methanol fuel. At the local level, a short-term and localized view of industry development explains why some governments actively promote …

  • Implementation and Participation in China's Local Environmental Politics

    Genia Kostka, Arthur P J Mol•ARTICLE•Journal of Environmental Policy &…•2013

    With its recently published 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP, 2011–2015) China's leaders have set ambitious national environmental targets and goals for developing a more sustainable economy and society. Past records, however, show that ambitious goals and regulations too often fail due to shortcomings in local implementation and civil society participation. At the sub-national level, economic, political, and social interests continue to dictate the poli…

  • Local Environmental Politics in China

    Genia Kostka, Arthur P J Mol•BOOK•Local Environmental Politics in…•2013

  • Authoritarian Environmentalism Undermined? Local Leaders’ Time Horizons and Environmental Policy Implementation in China

    Open Access•Eaton, Sarah Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•The China Quarterly•2014

    China's national leaders see restructuring and diversification away from resource-based, energy intensive industries as central goals in the coming years. On the basis of extensive fieldwork in China between 2010 and 2012, we suggest that the high turnover of leading cadres at the local level may hinder state-led greening growth initiatives. Frequent cadre turnover is intended primarily to keep local Party secretaries and mayors on the move in or…

  • Balancing Priorities, Aligning Interests

    Open Access•Tom Harrison, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Comparative Political Studies•2014•Cited by: 29•References: 24

    Debates about how to respond to climate change have largely focused on the difficulties in agreeing on national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By assuming that the main obstacle to emissions reduction lies in the inability to reach agreement internationally, the current debate underplays the challenges of building the state capacity that will be needed to ensure mitigation takes place. The implementation of mitigation strategies i…

  • Wind and Solar Power in Brazil and China

    Kathryn Hochstetler, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Global Environmental Politics•2015•Cited by: 19•References: 6

    This article examines developments in the renewable electricity sector in Brazil and China since 2000. The two countries share many interests with respect to solar and wind power, but institutional differences in state–business relations led to different outcomes. In China, in a context of corporatist state–business relations, state interventions were more far-reaching, with the state coordinating with state-owned banks, offering large financial …

  • Career Backgrounds of Municipal Party Secretaries in China

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Xiaofan Yu et al.•ARTICLE•Modern China•2015•Cited by: 14•References: 21

    This article examines the career backgrounds of municipal Chinese Communist Party secretaries between 1990 and 2011. Based on an analysis of 898 cadre biographies and 32 interviews with local government officials during 2011 and 2013, this article shows that the majority of municipal party secretaries had spent their careers working at the provincial and municipal levels, while only few advanced up from the county. Our analysis finds that obstacl…

  • Command without control

    Open Access•Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Regulation & Governance•2016•Cited by: 74•References: 21

    In the existing literature there is general agreement that the effectiveness and efficiency of command and control instruments versus market‐based instruments is highly context specific. A country's particular regulatory environment and state capacity, as well as the features of given environmental problems, play an important role in ascertaining what the “right” set of policy instruments for environmental management might be. This article examin…

  • Central–Local Relations

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Jonas Nahm•ARTICLE•The China Quarterly•2017

    Recent literature on environmental governance in China frequently ascribes blame for China's environmental problems to sub-national governments' lax environmental enforcement. Such research implicitly assumes that more central control would lead to better results but, as yet, the role of the centre in environmental governance remains underresearched. In the context of the current phase of recentralization, this article studies central and local i…

  • The Governance of Infrastructure

    Kai Wegrich, Genia Kostka et al.•BOOK•The Governance of Infrastructure•2017

    Infrastructure only tends to be noticed when it is absent, declining, or decrepit, or when enormous cost overruns, time delays, or citizen protests make the headlines. If infrastructure is indeed a fundamental driver of economic growth and social development, why is it so difficult to get right? In addressing this perennial question, this volume-the fourth edition in an annual series tackling different aspects of governance around the world-makes…

  • Tightening the grip

    Genia Kostka, Chunman Zhang•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2018•Cited by: 72•References: 23

    In the space of a few years, China's global image with regard to environmental matters has significantly improved. Particularly since Xi Jinping's coming-to-power in 2012 China's reputation in the global climate change regime has improved markedly and it has gained accolades for a new determination to reverse environmental degradation at home. China's incipient green transformation is partly due to a new actor constellation in environmental gover…

  • What makes for good and bad neighbours? An emerging research agenda in the study of Chinese environmental politics

    Eaton, Sarah Eaton et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2018•Cited by: 7•References: 56

    Tackling China’s grave environmental problems increasingly turns on questions of sub-national interjurisdictional relations. What are the conditions under which neighbouring localities cooperate in stewardship of the natural environment? What factors give rise to interjurisdictional conflict such as pollution spillovers? Through a combination of empirical and theoretical reflections, a research agenda to better understand these issues is outlined…

  • Environmental political business cycles

    Open Access•Xun Cao, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•Environmental Science & Policy•2019•Cited by: 14•References: 25

  • China’s social credit systems and public opinion

    Open Access•Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•New Media & Society•2019•Cited by: 49•References: 3

    A variety of commercial and local government social credit systems (SCSs) are now being implemented in China in order to steer the behavior of Chinese individuals, businesses, social organizations, and government agencies. Previous research finds that these SCSs are employed by the Chinese state as “surveillance infrastructure” and for social management. This article focuses on a different angle: the public’s opinion of SCSs. Based on a cross-reg…

  • Socio-Economic Development and Infrastructure Cost Performance in China

    Open Access•Wiebke Rabe, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•Journal of Current Chinese Affairs•2020•References: 10

    Socio-economic development is often linked to efficient infrastructure provision. In China, the government has rolled out ambitious infrastructure projects as part of its national development strategy. There is much to praise about China’s infrastructure provision, such as its remarkable scale and speed of infrastructure delivery. However, based on studying 153 infrastructure cases between 1983 and 2018 and two in-depth case studies, we find that…

  • Between security and convenience

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Léa Steinacker et al.•ARTICLE•Public Understanding of Science•2021

    How does the public perceive facial recognition technology and how much do they accept facial recognition technology in different political contexts? Based on online surveys resembling the Internet-connected population in China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, our study finds that facial recognition technology enjoys generally highest acceptance among respondents in China, while acceptance is lowest in Germany, and the United …

  • Big Data Dreams and Reality in Shenzhen

    Open Access•Jelena Große-Bley, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Big Data & Society•2021•Cited by: 12•References: 42

    Chinese cities are increasingly using digital technologies to address urban problems and govern society. However, little is known about how this digital transition has been implemented. This study explores the introduction of digital governance in Shenzhen, one of China's most advanced smart cities. We show that, at the local level, the successful implementation of digital systems faces numerous hurdles in long-standing data management and bureau…

  • From targets to inspections

    Genia Kostka, Coraline Goron•ARTICLE•Environmental Politics•2021•Cited by: 4•References: 24

    Using document analysis and fieldwork to analyse the issue of fairness in the implementation of China’s environmental and climate policy goals, we examine two top-down mechanisms put in place to steer implementation: binding environmental targets that have been allocated on different administrative levels since the 11th Five-Year Plan in 2011; and central environmental inspections, which have been rolled out across the country since 2016. The evi…

  • Accepting but not engaging with it

    Open Access•Haili Li, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Policy & Internet•2022

    Over the past decade, China's central and municipal governments have consistently supported the development of social credit systems (SCSs). While research has highlighted the Chinese public's high approval and backing of SCSs, their engagement with these digital projects has not been fully explored. Based on 44 semi‐structured interviews, our research examines Chinese citizens' digital participation in government‐run SCSs at the local level. Our…

  • In times of crisis

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Sabrina Habich‐sobiegalla•ARTICLE•New Media & Society•2022•Cited by: 11•References: 9

    The adoption of COVID-19 contact tracing apps (CTAs) has been proposed as an important measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. Based on a cross-national dataset, this article analyzes public perceptions toward CTAs and the factors that drive CTA acceptance in China, Germany, and the United States. We find that public acceptance of CTAs is significantly higher in China as compared with Germany and the United States. Despite very different socio…

  • China’s growing digital reach

    Open Access•Wiebke Rabe, Genia Kostka•ARTICLE•Review of International Political…•2022•References: 5

    Recent years have witnessed a rise in global investments in the digital economy. The growing digital reach of Chinese tech companies is responsible for at least part of this transformation. Yet, little is known about how host country citizens view China’s increasing stature in the digital sphere. Focusing on Chinese investments in mobile payment platforms (CIM), this article explains citizens’ levels of approval of Chinese outward investments in …

  • Under big brother's watchful eye

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, Léa Steinacker et al.•ARTICLE•Government Information Quarterly•2022•Cited by: 7•References: 12

    Governments around the world are adopting facial recognition technology (FRT) to improve public services and law enforcement. Past research has shown that such applications may result in discriminatory effects and threaten privacy. This study shines light on the question of what drives public opinion regarding FRT in different socio-political contexts. Based on an online survey and semi-structured interviews, this study finds that citizens in Chi…

  • Information Control and Public Support for Social Credit Systems in China

    Open Access•Xu Xu, Genia Kostka et al.•ARTICLE•The Journal of Politics•2022•Cited by: 28•References: 31

    Critics see China’s social credit system (SCS) as a tool of surveillance and repression. Yet opinion surveys in China find considerable public support for the SCS. We explain this puzzle by focusing on citizens’ lack of knowledge regarding the repressive nature of digital surveillance in dictatorships, which can be attributed to (1) invisible and targeted repression associated with digital surveillance and (2) government propaganda and censorship…

Political science (34 works) · China (31 works) · Business (23 works) · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance (21 works) · Economics (21 works) · Politics (20 works) · Law (19 works) · Public Administration (15 works) · Law (11 works) · Government (linguistics (10 works)

Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae