[Commlist] Call for papers: The 18th Chinese Internet Research Conference

The post-ICA 2020 conference brings CIRC to the southern hemisphere for 
the first time in its history since its inception in 2003. It will be 
jointly hosted by media and/or communication studies programs and 
schools in some of Australia’s most innovative universities. The 
conference will continue the proud tradition of CIRC in stimulating 
international research into the Internet and China within the broader 
field of media and communication studies. It aims to create dialogues 
between conceptual and empirical researchers; between academia, civil 
society, and industry. It focuses on understanding the transformation of 
Chinese digital media, communication and technologies and seeks to 
identify key new directions for research, debate, policy and 
application, in the current global environment of contestations and 
uncertainties. A particular goal of the conference is to encourage 
collegial interaction between higher-degree students, early career 
researchers and leading thinkers in this field. We will foreground 
innovation in digital methods of research, transformative programs of 
critical and creative inquiry, and the importance of dialogue between 
government, industry and the academia.

The CFP invites papers and panels that examine the internationalization 
mission and geopolitical implication of China’s global digital 
strategies, their successes and challenges that are centered on and 
beyond the Internet. It also welcomes papers that examine new dynamics 
and emerging trends related to Chinese Internet and digital 
culture/economy/politics from a comparative perspective—both 
historically and horizontally (with other countries).

*The conference theme:*

“The Internationalisation of China’s Digital and Communication Industries”

In anticipation of an Asian century (Khanna, 2019), Chinese technology 
has become increasingly more assertive (Lee, 2018), approximating a tech 
cold war. China’s internationalization strategies of their digital and 
communication industries are systematic and comprehensive as evidenced 
by their artificial intelligence ambitions and the “Digital Silk Road 
Initiative” (Shen, 2018: Fung et al, 2018; Keane & Yu, 2019; Shi, 
2018).  These policy interventions have helped advance Chinese tech, 
media, and digital platforms “over the wall”, if more often through 
parallel platform strategies, whether social media platforms (WeChat, 
Kuaishou, Douyin/TikTok), E-commerce models and online payment (Alipay, 
AliExpress, ‘Taobao Village’), digital and mobile technology (Xiaomi, 
Huawei), or its big data industry.

Yet, while promising a ‘fairer’ Internet and a ‘cyber community of 
shared destiny’ (to use Chinese President Xi’s words), these policies 
promote the interests of Chinese cyber sovereignty and an alternative 
cyber order advanced by the Chinese Internet (Yang, 2003, 2012).  
China’s expansion of its digital footprint, advance in digital capacity 
and AI technology, and soft power ambition have caused unease among 
international competitors and are regarded as ‘threat’ by the US-led 
‘Western’ alliance, as witnessed in the Huawei 5G ban in the U.S and 
Australia, forced sale of the gay dating app Grindr in the US, and 
accusation of TikTok violations of cultural norms and regulatory 
policies in India, Malaysia, and the U.S.  Even as China’s media content 
has flourished domestically and among the Chinese diasporas, efforts to 
enter Western mainstream geo-cultural markets have proven challenging if 
not impossible (Sun 2015), even with more genre-driven fare (/The 
Wandering Earth/) or the delayed “soft launch” of video portals (Lotz 
2017) like IQiyi into southeast Asian markets.

To this end, CIRC 2020 proposes to interrogate questions around, but not 
limited to, the following topics:

  * China’s digital strategy and expansion in the Asia Pacific and along
    the BRI, including its cybersecurity and legal frameworks;
  * The role of the Internet and digital technologies (artificial
    intelligence, blockchain, big data, quantum, etc) in shaping and
    promoting the Chinese version of a new cyber order and governance,
    both within and outside China; and its national and global impact;
  * Chinese digital platforms, digital economy, and digital diplomacy in
    the great power contest;
  * Chinese digital media and diasporic Chinese communities
  * Comparative studies between China and other nations on digital
    economies, politics, policies, governance, platforms, activism and
    cultures

We also welcome proposals and abstracts that are not directly related to 
the above-mentioned themes, such as:

  * Chinese digital lifestyles and youth sub-cultures
  * New forms of Internet communities or activism
  * Political economy of Chinese digital and communication industries

*Deadlines:*

Please send panel proposals, paper abstracts and enquiries to: 
(circ2020au /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(circ2020au /at/ gmail.com)>

Panel proposals (max. 1500 words): Panels should consist of 4 abstracts. 
A maximum of two sessions on the same topic (ie. 8 abstracts), submitted 
as separate panels of 4 abstracts each, are permitted. The deadline for 
submissions is 6pm, 20 January 2020 (Australian Eastern Time).

Individual paper abstracts (max. 300 words and a short bio of 100 
words): 6pm, 20 January 2020 (Australian Eastern Time).

Full paper submission for participants in the Best Student Paper Award 
(max. 8,000 words, including notes and references): 9am, Monday 30 March 
2020 (Australian Eastern Time).

Full paper submission is NOT required except for Higher Degree Research 
students who wish to be considered for the Best Student Paper Award.

*Key dates:*

  * 20 January 2020: Paper and panel proposals due
  * 20 February 2020: Notifications of acceptance
  * 02 March 2020: Confirmation of attendance
  * 21-25 May 2020: ICA (Gold Coast)
  * 27-28 May 2020: CIRC (Melbourne)

*Keynote speakers:
*

  * Michael Keane, Professor of Chinese media, Curtin University, Australia
  * Yu Hong, Professor of media and communication, Zhejiang University,
    China

*Organising committee:*

  * Haiqing Yu (haiqing.yu /at/ rmit.edu.au) <mailto:(haiqing.yu /at/ rmit.edu.au)>
  * Larissa Hjorth (larissa.hjorth /at/ rmit.edu.au)
    <mailto:(larissa.hjorth /at/ rmit.edu.au)>
  * Stuart Cunningham (s.cunningham /at/ qut.edu.au)
    <mailto:(s.cunningham /at/ qut.edu.au)>
  * David Craig (davidcra /at/ usc.edu) <mailto:(davidcra /at/ usc.edu)>
  * Michael Keane (m.keane /at/ curtin.edu.au) <mailto:(m.keane /at/ curtin.edu.au)>
  * Jian Xu (j.xu /at/ deakin.edu.au) <mailto:(j.xu /at/ deakin.edu.au)>
  * Mathew Allen (matthew.allen /at/ deakin.edu.au)
    <mailto:(matthew.allen /at/ deakin.edu.au)>


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