Fragmented Society: The Diffusion of ICT and China's Modernization

The book discusses the consequences of fast modernization and how non-Western catch-up countries are aware of their traditional cultural values. It focuses on how ICT changes the social memory of countries with languages that don't use the Roman alphabet, such as Korea and the Arabic countries.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has boosted economic development in China. To understand China's modernization, it is therefore necessary to consider the development of ICT. The book reflects how a catchup country with a fast modernization process develops into a relatively modern country and the consequences of the fast development. It focuses on the development of media in China by examining the diffusion of ICT and providing a case study in an indigenous place to explore the modernization process. The book offers a new perspective to understand modernization and contributes knowledge to understand China's media, technology diffusion, indigenous culture transformation into modern culture and social changes.

Autorentext

Hefan Xu received her Ph.D. from Heidelberg University, Max-Weber-Institute for Sociology in 2017. Her research interests include diffusion of information and communication technologies, digitalization, media in China, modernization, tourism in indigenous culture, transcultural studies and micro-expression recognition fields.

Inhalt

The Fragmented Society of China - A Train Metaphor-Hukou - Urbanization - One-child policy -The Eastern Media Philosophy -The Role of Intellectuals in Traditional Chinese Culture -The Intellectual, Liberty and Freedom in China from 1880 to 1949 -The Introduction of Liberty and Freedom to China -The Two Development Stage of the Media in China after 1949 - Interaction of the Media and Society - Mao's Period - Slogans and Social Mobilization -The Post-Mao Period - Learning Experience - Fast Diffusion of ICT -Telecommunication Reforms -The Social Trust System - How an Indigenous Society Develops in the Wave of Modernization - Difficulty of Entering into the Local Community -A Traditional Society -The Pervasive Usage of ICT in the Minority Area -The Tourism Modernization Process -Indigenous Culture and Modernization - Economic Growth - The Digital Divide - The Usage Gap and the Age Divide - Tradition and Modernity - Cultural Awareness -The Social Vacuum System with Fragmented Social Memory