[Commlist] CfP: The 23rd Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC) on June 22-23, 2026 & Special Journal Issue "The Chinese Internet in the Era of Uncertainty"

Call for Proposals for the 23rd Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC)

& Special Journal Issue “The Chinese Internet in the Era of Uncertainty”

The China Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

June 22-23, 2026


The China Institute at the University of Alberta is pleased to host the 
23rd Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC) in Edmonton, Canada on 
June 22-23, 2026 in person.

Conference Theme “The Chinese Internet in the Era of Uncertainty”

The “Chinese Internet”, from search engine and social media to 
e-commerce and AI, is an integral part of the global internet that has 
been continually reshaped by new technologies and evolving modes of 
communication with important economic, social, political and cultural 
implications. A focus on the Chinese Internet and its dynamics at this 
historical juncture is all the more important as the world we live in is 
undergoing profound macro changes that are both uncertainty-inducing and 
era-defining: technological transformations epitomized by recent AI 
development, economic instability embodied by unprecedented global debt, 
geopolitical shifts highlighted by the US-China rivalry and wars in 
Ukraine and Gaza, all taking place in an era of climate change, ongoing 
post-pandemic recovery, de-globalization and nationalism. At this 
pivotal moment, we ask the following questions:

  *

    How have Chinese Internet users navigated heightened levels of
    uncertainty, politically, economically and socially?

  *

    What can we learn by studying their adaptations to new challenges
    and opportunities for knowledge production (e.g., via AI) or
    responses to the emergence of new technologies, platforms,
    regulations or social mores, during an era characterized by
    uncertainty at both the individual and global level?

  *

    How have Chinese Internet companies coped with heightened levels of
    uncertainty amidst rising geopolitical tensions, disrupted supply
    chains and new market opportunities?

  *

    How have the Chinese state and institutions coped with and responded
    to technological, economic and geopolitical uncertainties in their
    approaches to governing the internet, AI and industrial policymaking?

  *

    How is the Chinese Internet shaping and being shaped by
    transnational flows of technology, capital, cultural practices and
    infrastructural power?


The China Institute and the CIRC organizing committee encourage scholars 
worldwide to come to Edmonton to present research with the following 
characteristics, methods and tendencies:

  *

    scholarship emphasizing lived experience as a criterion of knowledge
    and as a resource for theory building in contexts where existing
    theories may face declining explanatory power due to growing
    uncertainty;

  *

    studies on vivid storytelling or viral moments that highlight
    individual agency, voice and mobilization during times of
    transformation and uncertainty;

  *

    research on interaction among individual or group narratives in
    Chinese communication in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan,
    Singapore, as well as global diaspora communities during an era of
    uncertainty;

  *

    methodological papers related to the study of unforeseen but pivotal
    real-world events;

  *

    projects that disaggregate research of “the internet” or decolonize
    Sinophone internet spaces and communication studies within the
    broader Global South framework in an emerging multipolar world and
    the uncertainty that comes with it; and

  *

    visions of technological and social futures that emerge from the
    Chinese digital ecosystem.


Keynote Speakers:


Two distinguished scholars will anchor our themed conference with the 
following keynotes:

  *

    Dr. Guobin Yang (University of Pennsylvania):

“Of earthy flavor and AI flavor: On the importance of distinguishing 
flavors in an age of cyber artificiality and uncertainty”

  *

    Dr. Cara Wallis (University of Michigan):

“Certain (un)certainties and possible (im)possibilities: Creative 
stirrings and everyday politics in digital spaces”


Themed Special Journal Issue “The Chinese Internet in the Era of 
Uncertainty”


We plan to publish a special journal issue “The Chinese Internet in the 
Era of Uncertainty” based on outputs from the CIRC conference as well as 
general circulation of our special issue CfP. We target top-tier 
communication journals focused on mediated communication as well as 
Asia- and China-focused communication journals. Dr. Ashley Esarey 
(University of Alberta) and Dr. Min Jiang (University of North Carolina 
at Charlotte) will be co-editors of the special issue.


General Conference Topics:


In addition to the above themed topics, the organizers welcome a wide 
range of research on other subjects (as is traditional for CIRCs in 
years past) including but not limited to the following:

  *

    histories of the Chinese Internet;

  *

    studies of social media platforms, platformization, platform
    migration, cross-platform interaction, privacy, surveillance,
    misinformation;

  *

    challenges resulting from AI use and platforms (e.g., trust,
    distrust, deepfake); AI impact on the environment, robots and
    automation, algorithms, autonomous decision-making;

  *

    studies of digital labor, platform resistance, platform politics and
    nationalism;

  *

    research on digital influencers, creators, fandom cultures,
    communities and identities (race, class, gender);

  *

    research on the development of new platforms (e.g., smart cities),
    ownership structures, media concentration (e.g., antitrust policies)
    and user patterns (e.g., rural vs. urban);

  *

    studies of Chinese Internet governance, industrial policy, AI
    policy, platform regulations, global (dis)integration and geopolitics.


Funding and Post-Conference Retreat:


The conference does not charge registration fees. We will cover two 
breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners for all participants. In 
addition, for accepted student proposals, the China Institute will cover 
the cost of three nights’ lodging on the University of Alberta campus. 
We also offer to cover transportation and subsidized lodging for a 
two-day post-conference retreat in the Canadian Rockies (Banff National 
Park) on June 24-25, 2026.


Proposal Submission Guidelines:

March 1, 2026:Paper proposals, or full panel proposals, should be 
submitted by this date. Submissions must be written in English and sent 
to editors at (circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca) <mailto:(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca)>

Abstract: Individual or co-authored abstracts should be 500 or less 
words, excluding the title page and references. A title page should 
include the title of the paper, the name of the author/co-authors, 
academic/professional affiliation(s) and email address(es). The abstract 
should mention main arguments, research methods and summary of findings 
(or projected findings).

Panel proposal: Panel proposals are limited to 1,000 words, excluding 
the title page, references and appendices. They should propose a 
coherent panel consisting of 3-4 paper abstracts and one or more 
discussants. If you want further suggestions for organizing a panel, 
please email the conference host at (circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca) 
<mailto:(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca)>


March 31, 2026: Notifications of successful proposals will be sent by 
this date. Notification of acceptance after the March 31, 2026 deadline 
is possible based on space availability due to withdrawals resulting 
from funding, health, visa and other travel contingencies.


June 8, 2026:Full versions of the accepted papers (8,000 words including 
references, figures and tables) should be submitted via email to 
(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca) <mailto:(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca)>or uploaded to the 
conference platform per conference instructions by this date.


July 31, 2026:Full papers (8,000 words including references, figures and 
tables) submitted for special journal issue peer review.


December 31, 2026: Peer review and revisions for special journal issue 
complete.


Graduate Student Paper Contest:

Two top papers by graduate students will receive cash prizes and 
recognition at the conference. To be eligible, papers must have the same 
format as normal conference submissions but be entirely authored or 
co-authored by graduate students (no faculty or postdoctoral 
co-authorship) and not yet accepted for publication by a scholarly 
journal at the time of submission to this conference. Contest winners 
will be notified on the final day of the conference (June 23, 2026). 
Should you wish to participate in the student paper contest, please 
submit your conference paper to (circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca) 
<mailto:(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca)>with the subject heading “Student Paper 
Contest” by June 8, 2026.


Questions? Please email: (circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca) <mailto:(circ2026 /at/ ualberta.ca)>

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