Boris Johnson in hospital: a Chinese gaze at Western democracies in the COVID-19 pandemic. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Altman Yuzhu; Zhang, Ivy Shixin; Cummings, James; Zhang, Xiaoxiao
• Is Part Of: Media international Australia. Number 177(2020)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Boris Johnson -- China -- Chinese gaze -- community question-answering (CQA) site -- COVID-19 -- pandemic -- prime minister -- the UK -- Western democracy -- Zhihu; Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Australia -- Periodicals; Communication -- Australia -- Periodicals; Australia -- Cultural policy -- Periodicals; Médias -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Médias -- Australie -- Périodiques; Communication -- Australie -- Périodiques; Massamedia; Communication; Cultural policy; Mass media; Mass media -- Social aspects; Australia; Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1177/1329878X20954452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1324-5325

Abstract

In this article, we examine Chinese assessments of Western democratic systems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is based on an up-to-date case study of how Chinese Internet users discussed the UK Prime Minister – Boris Johnson's infection with COVID-19 in late March and early April 2020. The research collected original data from the Chinese community question-answering (CQA) site – Zhihu. Using a mixed-method approach, consisting of content analysis (CA) and thematic analysis (TA), we show how Zhihu users evaluate the incident (1) as a way to express their sentiments towards Boris Johnson, (2) as a case to assess British politics and (3) as a vehicle for rationalizing their views on Western democratic systems in relation to China's domestic politics. The research findings shed new light on a Chinese gaze at Western democratic systems in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.