Rising China and Internet Governance : Multistakeholderism, Fragmentation and the Liberal Order in the Age of Digital Sovereignty

This book provides an account of the transformation of Chinese stakeholders' engagement in Internet governance, from normative contestation to integration, and from isolation to an industrial leadership role.

This book provides an account of the transformation of Chinese stakeholders' engagement in Internet governance, from normative contestation to integration, and from isolation to an industrial leadership role. The book concludes that Chinese stakeholders are not seeking to fragment the Internet but are rather integrating in the existing global Internet governance mechanisms while adopting strong regulation domestically. This counters a widespread media (and academic) narrative on China as the promoter of an alternative Internet and/or an alternative model of Internet governance. These conclusions are reached through a mix of qualitative methods, including interviews with people involved first-hand in Internet governance, such as technologists engaged in the making of Internet and mobile connectivity standards.