Content Control Contestations: Russia and China as Norm Entrepreneurs of Information Security Norms
Discussant: tba
We cordially invite you to the next session of our workshop series on Authoritarian Politics and International Relations at WZB! Daniëlle Flonk will present her paper “Content Control Contestations: Russia and China as norm entrepreneurs of information security norms” in which she investigates the strategies with which authoritarian states control the internet. Focusing on China and Russia, Flonk shows that content control of the internet is not only a domestic measure, but rather reflects a global norm in emergence. Beyond contributing to our understanding of authoritarian regimes as norm entrepreneurs, the paper sheds also light on the specific combinations of strategies to domesticate content in the internet. Specifically, both China and Russia apply socialization and persuasion strategies with a focus on, first, building regional support coalitions and, then, to engage in international norm promotion through international organizations. Flonk finds that these two norm entrepreneurs not only use different strategies of persuasion and socialization, but also adapt these to different target groups based on the degree of norm internalization.
The seminar series aims at bringing together scholars from Comparative Politics and International Relations. We invite papers combining comparative authoritarianism and IR, as well as contributions that help clarify important theoretical concepts and empirical patterns in either discipline. Colleagues interested in presenting in the workshop series should email Alex Tokhi (alexandros.tokhi [at] wzb.eu) or Alex Schmotz (alexander.schmotz [at] wzb.eu).
When: Once a month on a Tuesday afternoon (see dates below)
Where: WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Reichpietschufer 50, 10785 Berlin, Room A305
What: A classic format: 90 minute research seminar with one paper presentation (15 min), one discussant (10), and plenty of time for Q&A
Who: All scholars from WZB and the Berlin area and anyone interested in authoritarian politics and/or international relations
The next sessions you can find here.
Organized by Alexandros Tokhi (Department Global Governance) and Alexander Schmotz (Department of Democracy & Democratisation)