The Interactive Logic of Weibo Anti-corruption from a Vertical Accountability Perspective:
A Machine-Learning Analysis of Big Data
WU Yujie, XIAO Hanyu
Author information+
( 1. International Business School, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing 100089, China; 2. Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies,
The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)
Cyber anti-corruption, an important supplementary anti-corruption channel in China, has recently developed new features. The problem exposed is increasingly complex and multifaceted. Netizens become more polarized, and it is easy to trigger social resentment. While cyber anti-corruption has been a new challenge for the government, little is known about its new development and features. We employ a vertical accountability perspective and a machine-learning approach to analyze big data from Weibo texts, by analyzing the Beiji Nianyu-case. Local government′s quick responses can relieve citizens′ concerns and attention during the opinion expression period. Nevertheless, in the second stage, local government′s implicit responses may trigger citizens′ dissatisfaction and irrational behaviors, while central media may proactively interact with citizens. Central media strengthen the interactions with citizens at the peak, increasing local government′s responsiveness. It uncovers the complicated interactions of the central and local governments and citizens, and provides practical implications for local governments to enhance their governance in cyber anti-corruption.
The Interactive Logic of Weibo Anti-corruption from a Vertical Accountability Perspective:
A Machine-Learning Analysis of Big Data. Journal of Guangzhou University (Social Science Edition). 2024, 23(4): 65-82