The Expanding Digital Reach of the Chinese State

Digital Governance in China

Bibliographic Data

ID6377227
AuthorsGenia Kostka (0000-0002-3696-9513), Anton Bogs (0009-0008-4709-4418)
Year2025
Publication date2025-09-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRegulation & Governance (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1748-5983 • E-ISSN: 1748-5991
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/rego.70078
OpenAlexW4414396292
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited85

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 processes has enabled new forms of power abuse, leading to resource waste and resistance among citizens. We contend that broader societal debate on the practices and outcomes of digital governance is essential to addressing these challenges. While digitalization poses unique challenges to regulators and societies worldwide, China's advanced experience offers important lessons

China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies · Privacy, Security, and Data Protection