Xitong Chen
Thesis title: Local States, Digital Platforms and Fragile Interest Intermediation in Contemporary China
PhD in Chinese Studies
Year of study: 3
- School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
- Asian Studies
- Chinese Studies
Contact details
- Email: X.Chen-292@sms.ed.ac.uk
PhD supervisors:
Address
- Street
-
School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
50 George Square - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9LH
Background
Xitong Chen is a researcher bridging media practice and political economy. Currently a PhD candidate in Chinese Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Xitong researches state-business relations in China’s digital age. By investigating local government interventions in livestream e-commerce, the project introduces the framework of "fragile interest intermediation" to challenge traditional narratives of local developmentalism.
Xitong's academic journey is deeply rooted in their frontline media experience. After earning a BA in Directing and Screenwriting (First in Cohort) in China, Xitong worked as an investigative journalist for national broadcasters like CCTV and BTV, and as an independent documentary filmmaker. Driven by a commitment to uncovering unbroadcastable socio-political realities, Xitong transitioned into academia to study systemic media controls, completing an MA in Politics and Media in East Asia at the University of Sheffield with a thesis on China's internet censorship apparatus. Today, Xitong brings the sharp instincts of an investigative reporter into rigorous academic fieldwork, untangling the complex realities beneath official policy rhetoric.
Qualifications
PhD candidate in Chinese Studies, University of Edinburgh.
MA in Politics and Media in East Asia, University of Sheffield.
BA in Filmmaking and Dramatic Literature, China (Ranked 1st; Outstanding Graduate).
Research summary
Xitong’s research explores the relationship between local state power, digital platforms and business organisation in contemporary China. He is particularly interested in how local governments adapt to the platform economy, and how state goals are mediated through industry associations, platform-linked service providers and local firms. His work is grounded in qualitative fieldwork and focuses on the everyday institutional arrangements through which local economic governance is organised, negotiated and constrained.
Current research interests
Xitong’s current research examines local government–platform collaboration in China’s livestream e-commerce sector. The project investigates how municipal and county-level governments work with digital platforms, intermediary organisations, platform service providers and businesses in the governance of platform-mediated economic development. A central concept in the project is “fragile interest intermediation”, which captures how intermediary organisations may perform important coordinating functions while lacking stable representational authority, durable institutional support and sustained access to key resources. Through qualitative fieldwork, the research contributes to debates on Chinese political economy, platform governance, local state corporatism and state–business relations.Past research interests
Xitong’s earlier academic and professional interests centred on media production, political communication and the relationship between media institutions and public life in East Asia. During his MA studies at the University of Sheffield, he explored questions of digital media governance and political communication in contemporary China. His earlier media practice included documentary filmmaking, television journalism, investigative reporting and film criticism.Knowledge exchange
Before beginning his doctoral research, Xitong Chen worked across journalism, documentary filmmaking, film production and film criticism in China, including experience with national and municipal media organisations. His earlier media practice involved investigative reporting, documentary work and public-facing cultural criticism, and his visual media work received recognition in national student film and advertising competitions.
This background informs his interest in knowledge exchange and public engagement. He is interested in how academic research on China’s platform economy, local governance and state–business relations can be communicated beyond specialist audiences through accessible writing, visual media and documentary forms.