Between the state and market: Media reform and the change of public discourse in contemporary China

This dissertation is an empirically based study of how market-oriented reforms in Chinese media are transforming the public sphere in contemporary China. By introducing the market mechanism to the media, these reforms have stimulated the production and circulation of much larger volumes and more diverse content of media. In seeking explanations of this development, this study combines a political economy method with Pierre Bourdieu's approach to 'field' analysis. By distinguishing three fields of media productions, the author explains how the interplay of political power and market forces has changed the overall structure of media practice, but meanwhile focuses on examinations of how media contents of different (political, entertainment, and intellectual) natures are produced differently. The study draws on concrete case analysis to explore how each field of the media is structured and regulated, what sorts of strategies are adopted, and what kind of content has been produced. It presents an alternative interpretation of reforms in Chinese media to previous studies based on the structural perspective.; The major finding of the study is that media reforms have transformed the Chinese public sphere, from a monopolistic type in the pre-reform era to a new pluralistic type, which has had enormous impact on Chinese politics. The author argues that the current public sphere allows a certain degree of political liberalization by bringing to an end the traditional Leninist politics, but has not provided sufficient space for open and reasoned debate on public affairs that a democratic transition requires. Nevertheless, there is evidence suggesting that the present public sphere may further evolve in the direction of a democratic transition. By highlighting the role of the public discourse in defining Chinese politics, this thesis contributes to the debate on the issue of public sphere in China and to the broader literature on the political democratization.