The era when observers thought that democratic reform in China might be possible is long gone. In fact,
surveillance and repression have become even more prevalent in the past two decades, and they continue to grow. The current trend is toward the use of
sophisticated technology, including
artificial intelligence, but the system is built on a
bureaucratic, labor-intensive infrastructure dating from the Mao years. ... A sizable portion of the surveillance occurs at the
grassroots level, with
battalions of informants reporting to local police. Above that level is a series of
agencies that
analyze the data and undertake
detailed surveillance and coercion when needed, and
high-level Communist Party committees provide oversight and coordination. The system adds up to “preventive repression,” aimed at identifying and dealing with dissent before it can become organized opposition. Most of China’s population seems willing to accept ongoing surveillance in return for social stability and economic growth. The
system is extremely expensive, but Xi Jinping and his coterie are willing to pay it. However, the size and effectiveness of the surveillance system might blind leaders to other threats, such as
corruption and
socioeconomic inequities.
Pei is a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and author of China’s Crony Capitalism and China’s Trapped Transition. Pei reveals the vast machinery of surveillance and repression in China, fueled by leaders’ fear, distrust, and paranoia.
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