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The article examines the prevalence of online activism within China. The Internet has become a venue for Chinese citizens to voice their concerns and has helped to organize petitions, campaign Websites, and large-scale verbal protests. In some instances, it has even aided in the formation of street protests. The author examines four types of online activism: cultural, social, political, and nationalistic. Participants in online activism can unite through online social networking sites, blogs, Internet bulletin boards, and even video-sharing sites similar to YouTube. The interconnection of technological developments and socioeconomic changes is elucidated.

The article examines the socioeconomic statements that seem to be inherent in a protest that occurred amongst moderately wealthy Chinese citizens of Shanghai, following the announcement of plans to extend a train line into their district. While it has not been uncommon for members of the lower classes to demonstrate due to a belief that they are being left behind by the rapid economic development occurring within China, the author stresses that this protest was hosted by members of the middle class. The consensus among the demonstrating Shanghai residents was that they should have been consulted about the expansion of the train line, and the atmosphere of the gathering was largely nonconfrontational.

The article examines ways in which Chinese farmers have begun to participate in political demonstrations following the Tiananmen Square incident that took place in Beijing, China in 1989. While they did not participate heavily in this protest, other than to serve as a source of support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it is now common for the agrarian sector to participate politically via petitions and even violent clashes over resources such as land. The author examines how the decision of Chinese authorities to loosen controls on political expression and their trend toward liberalization has provided the opportunity for farmers to stage these demonstrations.

The article examines how protests in support of civil rights have increased in frequency among Chinese citizens following the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989. The author references four essays on modernist China to elucidate this point. The first essay addresses unrest within the laboring class of China, which is constrained by socioeconomic norms. A second essay examines the mechanisms that prevent cooperation among different classes from emerging within Chinese demonstrations. Another essay discusses how the Internet allows citizens to grow less intimidated by governmental influence, a transformation that is seen as being vital to democratization. Finally, the fourth essay highlights the importance of text messaging within China’s movement toward democracy.