| Drawing on archival sources, field reports as well as interviews, this dissertation analyzes the factual, fictional and cultural elements of politically motivated rumors, examines the making and spreading of such rumors, and explores how political activists use rumors to mobilize the public to participate in various forms of political protests, demonstrations and even rebellions. First, this dissertation finds that politically rumors in China are typically made of bits and pieces of hard facts and culturally highly stimulating symbols such as death and violence against the weak and women. The agitating power of rumors is advanced by persuasive storyline and evocative rhetoric, as well as "planted" evidence that apparently prove the predictions made by the rumor makers. Second, this dissertation finds that both powerless commoners and powerless intellectuals resort to making and spreading rumors in their struggle against the power holders. What differentiates these two groups of contentious people is that the under-educated common people resort to folklores and superstition, while the better-educated oppositional elites invoke highsounding principles like popular sovereignty or democracy and disturbing cultural symbols like traitors. Rumors can be created and transmitted simultaneously through rituals, funerals, gatherings and well-staged street shows. Lastly, this dissertation finds that rumors are usually quite effective in mobilizing popular participation in protests and violence, but rumors also backfire on organizers and leaders of popular contention by damaging their credibility. Popular actions mobilized by rumors may be swift and violent, but they are unlikely to last long and produce sustainable institutional changes. |
