Abstract
Although the Internet has had a profound influence on China’s economy and society, the empirical research pertaining to political consequences of the Internet is highly sparse. This paper investigates the potential relationship between Internet use and trust in government of Chinese netizens. We find robust evidence of a significant positive effect of Internet use on trust in government of netizens in China. The beneficial impact of Internet use on trust in government is found to be heterogeneous across genders and age groups. We also find that the source of information plays a role in explaining Chinese netizens’ attitudes towards their governments. In addition, we find that the key mechanisms through which Internet use affects trust in government are the changes in netizens’ appraisal of government performance, deference to government authority and internal efficacy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Best, M. L., & Wade, K. W. (2009). The Internet and democracy: Global catalyst or democratic dud? Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society,29(4), 255–271.
Bode, L. (2012). Facebooking it to the polls: A study in online social networking and political behavior. Journal of Information Technology & Politics,9(4), 352–369.
Braithwaite, J., & Makkai, T. (1994). Trust and compliance. Policing and Society: An International Journal,4(1), 1–12.
Ceron, A. (2015). Internet, news, and political trust: The difference between social media and online media outlets. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication,20(5), 487–503.
Chadwick, A. (2014). The hybrid media system: Politics and power. Public Administration,92(4), 1106–1114.
Chan, M., Wu, X., Hao, Y., Xi, R., & Jin, T. (2012). Microblogging, online expression, and political efficacy among young Chinese citizens: The moderating role of information and entertainment needs in the use of Weibo. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking,15(7), 345–349.
Chanley, V. A., Rudolph, T. J., & Rahn, W. M. (2000). The origins and consequences of public trust in government: A time series analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly,64(3), 239–256.
Chao, N., Yuan, G., Li, Y., & Yao, Q. (2017). The internet ecological perception, political trust and political efficacy of Chinese netizens. Telematics and Informatics,34(3), 715–725.
Chen, D. (2017). Local distrust and regime support: Sources and effects of political trust in China. Political Research Quarterly,70(2), 314–326.
Chen, H., Chan, M., & Lee, F. L. (2016). Social media use and democratic engagement: a comparative study of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. Chinese Journal of Communication,9(4), 348–366.
Citrin, J., & Green, D. P. (1986). Presidential leadership and the resurgence of trust in government. British Journal of Political Science,16(4), 431–453.
CNNIC. (2019). 43rd China statistical report on Internet development (February, 2019). Beijing: China Internet Network Information Center. Retrieved February 28, 2019 from http://www.cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/201902/P020190318523029756345.pdf(in Chinese).
Cook, T. E., & Gronke, P. (2005). The skeptical American: Revisiting the meanings of trust in government and confidence in institutions. The Journal of Politics,67(3), 784–803.
Corbacho, A., Philipp, J., & Ruiz-Vega, M. (2015). Crime and erosion of trust: Evidence for Latin America. World Development,70, 400–415.
Córdova, A., & Layton, M. L. (2016). When is “delivering the goods” not good enough?: How economic disparities in Latin American neighborhoods shape citizen trust in local government. World Politics,68(1), 74–110.
Craig, S. C., Niemi, R. G., & Silver, G. E. (1990). Political efficacy and trust: A report on the NES pilot study items. Political Behavior,12(3), 289–314.
Dalton, R. J. (2005). The social transformation of trust in government. International Review of Sociology,15(1), 133–154.
Deutskens, E., De Ruyter, K., Wetzels, M., & Oosterveld, P. (2004). Response rate and response quality of internet-based surveys: An experimental study. Marketing Letters,15(1), 21–36.
Farrell, H. (2012). The consequences of the internet for politics. Annual Review of Political Science,15, 35–52.
Gries, P. H. (2012). Disillusionment and dismay: How Chinese netizens think and feel about the two Koreas. Journal of East Asian Studies,12(1), 31–56.
Heckman, J. J. (1979). Sample selection bias as a specification error. Econometrica: Journal of the Econometric Society, 47(1), 153–161.
Hoffman, L. H., & Thomson, T. L. (2009). The effect of television viewing on adolescents’ civic participation: Political efficacy as a mediating mechanism. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media,53(1), 3–21.
Hong, H. (2013). Government websites and social media’s influence on government–public relationships. Public Relations Review,39(4), 346–356.
Hong, H. (2014). The Internet, transparency, and government–public relationships in Seoul, South Korea. Public Relations Review,40(3), 500–502.
Im, T., Cho, W., Porumbescu, G., & Park, J. (2014). Internet, trust in government, and citizen compliance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory,24(3), 741–763.
Kampen, J. K., De Walle, S. V., & Bouckaert, G. (2006). Assessing the relation between satisfaction with public service delivery and trust in government. The impact of the predisposition of citizens toward government on evaluations of its performance. Public Performance & Management Review,29(4), 387–404.
Keele, L. (2007). Social capital and the dynamics of trust in government. American Journal of Political Science,51(2), 241–254.
Kent Jennings, M., & Zeitner, V. (2003). Internet use and civic engagement: A longitudinal analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly,67(3), 311–334.
Kim, S., & Lee, J. (2012). E-participation, transparency, and trust in local government. Public Administration Review,72(6), 819–828.
Kruikemeier, S., & Shehata, A. (2017). News media use and political engagement among adolescents: An analysis of virtuous circles using panel data. Political Communication,34(2), 221–242.
Li, L. (2004). Political trust in rural China. Modern China,30(2), 228–258.
Li, L. (2016). Reassessing trust in the central government: Evidence from five national surveys. The China Quarterly,225, 100–121.
Manion, M. (2006). Democracy, community, trust: The impact of elections in rural China. Comparative Political Studies,39(3), 301–324.
Maxwell, R. (2010). Trust in government among British Muslims: The importance of migration status. Political Behavior,32(1), 89–109.
Miller, A. H. (1974). Political issues and trust in government: 1964–1970. American Political Science Review,68(3), 951–972.
Miller, A. H., & Listhaug, O. (1998). Policy preferences and political distrust: A comparison of Norway, Sweden and the United States. Scandinavian Political Studies,21(2), 161–187.
Mishler, W., & Rose, R. (2001). What are the origins of political trust? Testing institutional and cultural theories in post-communist societies. Comparative Political Studies,34(1), 30–62.
Morgeson, F. V., III, VanAmburg, D., & Mithas, S. (2010). Misplaced trust? Exploring the structure of the e-government-citizen trust relationship. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory,21(2), 257–283.
Mou, Y., Atkin, D., Fu, H., Lin, C. A., & Lau, T. Y. (2013). The influence of online forum and SNS use on online political discussion in China: Assessing “spirals of trust”. Telematics and Informatics,30(4), 359–369.
Ng, Y. K. (1997). A case for happiness, cardinalism, and interpersonal comparability. The Economic Journal,107(445), 1848–1858.
Nunkoo, R., & Smith, S. L. (2013). Political economy of tourism: Trust in government actors, political support, and their determinants. Tourism Management,36, 120–132.
Parent, M., Vandebeek, C. A., & Gemino, A. C. (2005). Building citizen trust through e-government. Government Information Quarterly,22(4), 720–736.
Quintelier, E., & Vissers, S. (2007). The effect of Internet use on political participation. Social Science Computer Review,26(4), 411–427.
Sharoni, S. (2012). E-Citizenship: Trust in government, political efficacy, and political participation in the internet era. Electronic Media & Politics,1(8), 119–135.
Shi, T. (2001). Cultural values and political trust: A comparison of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Comparative Politics, 33(4), 401–419.
Song, C., & Lee, J. (2016). Citizens’ use of social media in government, perceived transparency, and trust in government. Public Performance & Management Review,39(2), 430–453.
Suther, H., & Piachaud, D. (2001). Reducing child poverty in Britain: An assessment of government policy 1997–2001. The Economic Journal,111(469), 85–101.
Tang, M., & Huhe, N. (2014). Alternative framing: The effect of the Internet on political support in authoritarian China. International Political Science Review,35(5), 559–576.
Tolbert, C. J., & Mossberger, K. (2006). The effects of e-government on trust and confidence in government. Public Administration Review,66(3), 354–369.
Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2007). Internet communication and its relation to well-being: Identifying some underlying mechanisms. Media Psychology,9(1), 43–58.
Wang, H., Cai, T., Mou, Y., & Shi, F. (2018). Traditional resources, Internet resources, and youth online political participation: The resource theory revisited in the Chinese context. Chinese Sociological Review,50(2), 115–136.
Welch, E. W., Hinnant, C. C., & Moon, M. J. (2004). Linking citizen satisfaction with e-government and trust in government. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory,15(3), 371–391.
Wenzel, J. P. (2006). Acculturation effects on trust in national and local government among Mexican Americans. Social Science Quarterly,87(5), 1073–1087.
West, D. M. (2004). E-government and the transformation of service delivery and citizen attitudes. Public Administration Review,64(1), 15–27.
Wu, C., & Wilkes, R. (2018). Local–national political trust patterns: Why China is an exception. International Political Science Review,39(4), 436–454.
Yang, D., Sonmez, M. M., Li, Q., & Duan, Y. (2015). The power of triple contexts on customer-based brand performance—A comparative study of Baidu and Google from Chinese netizens’ perspective. International Business Review,24(1), 11–22.
Yang, Q., & Tang, W. (2010). Exploring the sources of institutional trust in China: Culture, mobilization, or performance? Asian Politics & Policy,2(3), 415–436.
Yang, Y., Tang, M., Zhou, W., & Huhe, N. (2014). The effect of media use on institutional trust in China. Problems of Post-Communism,61(3), 45–56.
Yuan, W. (2010). E-democracy@ China: Does it work? Chinese Journal of Communication,3(4), 488–503.
Zhao, D., & Hu, W. (2017). Determinants of public trust in government: Empirical evidence from urban China. International Review of Administrative Sciences,83(2), 358–377.
Funding
Funding was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71603052) and Humanity and Social Science Youth Foundation of Ministry of Education (Grant No. 16YJCZH065).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lu, H., Tong, P. & Zhu, R. Does Internet Use Affect Netizens’ Trust in Government? Empirical Evidence from China. Soc Indic Res 149, 167–185 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02247-0
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02247-0