Applying resource mobilization and political process theories to explore social media and environmental protest in contemporary China

Abstract

While increased attention has been given to the frequent occurrence of large-scale environmental movements, the role that the new information and communication technology, especially social media, plays in these environmental collective actions has rarely been systematically investigated. The article represents one of the few that seeks to examine the utility of social media in the recent environment protection and explore how the innovative media can mobilise environmental protests through the perspective of resource mobilisation and political process theories. The outcomes show that the newly emerging social media is not only a valuable resource for collective action and the organisation of online civil mobilisation, but also plays an instrumental role in the opposition to major policies that may lead to the change of the government decisions. The study may have practical significance and academic value for understanding the new media field and online environmental protest in contemporary China.