In this interview, Professor Rongbin Han discusses his new book, Contesting Cyberspace in China, with Senior Director for Education Programs Margot Landman. He talks about his experiences a university student in China at the dawn of the Internet, the Internet's relation to democracy as well as illiberal discourse, and the role of the "50-Cent Army" on Chinese social media.
Rongbin Han is an assistant professor in the department of international affairs at the University of Georgia. He received MA and PhD degrees in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, a master’s degree in social sciences from the National University of Singapore, and a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Peking University.
Dr. Han’s research interests lie at the intersection of contentious politics, media, and civic participation in China. He has published articles in journals including the China Quarterly, the Journal of Contemporary China, the International Journal of Communication, and the Journal of Current Chinese Affairs.