Theories in social sciences, including theories about communication and digital media, have been dominated by the Global North. In this in-person seminar, Prof Ralph Schroeder attempted to redress this imbalance by referencing two major countries – China and India, and discuss how social science theories about digital media could learn from settings beyond the context of high-income democracies.

Prof Schroeder argued that, in both countries, digital – as opposed to traditional media - allowed for greater responsiveness from elites to civil society and vice versa. However, there were mixed effects of this expanded responsiveness. This tied to a second argument, which was that in both countries, the autonomy of the public sphere of media was constrained, though less so in India’s half-democracy than in China’s authoritarian party state. Third, algorithmic (or AI-driven) shaping of the public sphere was becoming widespread, potentially skewing the public sphere, especially in China.

Prof Schroeder was joined by Asst. Prof Taberez Neyazi, who moderated the session.

 

Welcome address by Asst. Prof Taberez Neyazi. View video

 

 

Presentation by Prof Ralph Schroeder.View video