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 PhD candidate in Chinese Studies at the University of Edinburgh. His research examines how local governments respond to the growing role of digital platforms in economic governance, with particular attention to local state capacity, intermediary organisations and state–market relations.
Before beginning his doctoral research, Xitong completed an MA in Politics and Media in East Asia at the University of Sheffield. His earlier professional experience includes television journalism, documentary filmmaking, media production and film criticism in China. This background informs his interest in how formal policy goals are interpreted and negotiated in practice, as well as his use of interviews and qualitative fieldwork.
Research summary
Xitong’s doctoral project investigates how local governments seek to govern platform-mediated economic development when many of the infrastructures, rules and forms of market visibility on which businesses depend are controlled by digital platforms.
Using livestream e-commerce as its principal empirical setting, the project draws on qualitative fieldwork with government officials, industry associations, platform-linked service providers and firms. It examines three connected questions: how fiscal and regulatory constraints reshape local state capacity; how intermediary organisations translate government policy and platform rules; and why firms participate selectively in government-led development initiatives.
Current research interests
Xitong’s current research interests include Chinese political economy, local and subnational governance, state–market relations, platform governance, local state capacity, public policy implementation, business associations and intermediary organisations, and the digital economy. He is particularly interested in research that connects the study of digital platforms with established debates about government capacity, economic development and the organisation of business interests.Past research interests
Xitong’s earlier academic interests centred on political communication, media institutions and internet governance in East Asia. His MA research examined China’s internet censorship and digital media governance. His previous media practice also developed his interest in the relationship between institutional narratives, public communication and everyday political and economic life.Knowledge exchange
Xitong’s background in journalism and documentary filmmaking informs his qualitative approach and his interest in accessible, public-facing research.
He is interested in conversations and potential collaborations with researchers working on subnational governance, platform economies, state–business relations, digital regulation and qualitative research on China and other regional contexts.