How do citizens navigate authoritarian systems? We introduce a novel framework focusing on 'public transcripts' — everyday interactions between ordinary people and political authorities.
Data & Methods
- Analyzed over eight thousand citizen appeals to local officials in contemporary China.
- Examined communication patterns as strategic performances aimed at state actors.
Key Findings
- Identified three distinct ideal-type scripts of citizenship:
- Subjecthood: citizens positioning themselves as subordinates seeking benevolent aid.
- Authoritarian Legal Citizenship: appeals leveraging formal legal structures and commitments.
- Socialist Citizenship: strategies invoking officials' moral obligation for collective welfare.
Why China Matters
- These diverse approaches coexist within a single authoritarian state, challenging simple regime-based categorizations.
- The framework demonstrates that understanding citizenship requires examining how citizens strategically communicate with political elites to elicit assistance.
