Peng, Yuzhu (Altman), Zhang, Ivy Shixin, Cummings, James and Zhang, Xiaoxiao (2020) Boris Johnson in hospital : a Chinese gaze at Western democracies in the COVID-19 pandemic. Media International Australia, 177 (1). pp. 76-91. doi:10.1177/1329878X20954452

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Abstract

In this article, we examine Chinese assessments of Western democratic systems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is based on an up-to-date case study of how Chinese Internet users discussed the UK Prime Minister – Boris Johnson’s infection with COVID-19 in late March and early April 2020. The research collected original data from the Chinese community question-answering (CQA) site – Zhihu. Using a mixed-method approach, consisting of content analysis (CA) and thematic analysis (TA), we show how Zhihu users evaluate the incident (1) as a way to express their sentiments towards Boris Johnson, (2) as a case to assess British politics and (3) as a vehicle for rationalizing their views on Western democratic systems in relation to China’s domestic politics. The research findings shed new light on a Chinese gaze at Western democratic systems in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JC Political theory J Political Science > JQ Political institutions (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) J Political Science > JZ International relations P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Applied Linguistics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Johnson, Boris, Online social networks -- China, Democracy -- Western countries, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Great Britain, Eurocentrism -- China, Political culture -- China, Social media -- Political aspects -- China, Democracy -- Western countries -- Online chat groups, Conversation analysis
Journal or Publication Title:	Media International Australia
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd
ISSN:	1329-878X
Official Date:	1 November 2020
Dates:	Date Event 1 November 2020 Published
Volume:	177
Number:	1
Page Range:	pp. 76-91
DOI:	10.1177/1329878X20954452
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit:	23 March 2022
Date of first compliant Open Access:	24 March 2022
Is Part Of:	1

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