In the wake of globalization, the idea of electronic government (e-government) has become an integral part of modernization efforts undertaken by countries with a variety of political systems. This article will examine how it is being pursued in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in order to contribute to our understanding of how e-government works in a non-liberal democratic polity. The analysis will start by focusing on the issues of how the Chinese understand the concept of e-government, continue by looking at what is actually being done by the state for the purpose of establishing it, and finish with a discussion of the methods that can best be used to assess the achievements and problems that are being met.
Accenture (2001) ‘Rhetoric vs. Reality - Closing the Gap’ (Second Annual Global Accenture Study), URL (consulted 20 June 2001): http://www.accenture.com
2.
Bignews (2000), URL (consulted 10 December 2000): http://www.bignews.org/20001210.txt.
3.
Chang, S. (2001) ‘Build a New City Network, March to the New Economic Era’, URL (consulted 2 November 2001): http://www.worldbank.com
4.
Cui S. (1999) ‘Dalu guanfang wangye liaoshengyuwu’ (‘China’s Official Websites are Good for Nothing’), Open Magazine (September): 62.
5.
‘E-Government: The Next American Revolution’, URL (consulted 2 February 2001): http://www.excelgov.org/egovpoll/report/contents.htm.
6.
Giddens, A. (1985) The Nation-State and Violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
7.
gov.uk (2001): ‘Modernizing Government’, URL (consulted 4 April 2001): http://www.citu.gov.uk/moderngov/whitepapter/4310-01.htm.
8.
Government Online Project Service Center (GOPSC) (2000a) ‘Zhengfu shangwang’ gongcheng baipishu’ (Government Online Project White Paper). Beijing.
9.
Government Online Project Service Center (2000b): Zoujin xin shidai (Entering a New Era). Beijing.
10.
Government Online Project Service Center (2000c): Project of Government Online: Assembly for Promoting Government Online of 100 Cities. Beijing.
11.
Gu, D. and Q. Huang (1999) ‘Zhengfu shangwang, geming shangwei chenggong?’ (‘Government Online - An Unfulfilled Revolution?’), Diannao Ribao(Computer Daily), 14 August.
12.
Hua, P. (2001) ‘2000 nian Beijing xinxihua jianshe xianzhuang ji 2001 nian zhangwang’ (‘Standing Position of Beijing’s Informatization in the Year 2000 and its Prospects for the Year 2001’), URL (consulted 1 January 2001): http://www.beijing.gov.cn
13.
Jiang Q. (2000) ‘Serve the People Wholehearted and Electronic’, China Internet Weekly, 11 September, URL (consulted 22 November 2001): http://www.eviangroup.org/publications/pb_22ml.htm
14.
New Zealand Government (2001) ‘E-Government Strategy - Vision, New Zealand will be a world leader in e-government’, URL (consulted 22 November 2001) http://www.e-government.govt.nz
15.
Office of the e-Envoy (2001) ‘E-Government: Benchmarking Electronic Service Deliver - A Report by the Office of the e-Envoy, URL (consulted 12 July 2001): http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/publications/reports/benchmarkingV2/eskill_intro.htm
16.
People’s Daily (2000), URL (consulted 23 June 2001): http://www.peoplesdaily.cn/english
17.
Pye, L.W. (1988) The Mandarin and the Cadre: China’s Political Cultures. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.
18.
Sina-dailynews (2001) URL (consulted 5 June 2001): http://www.dailynews.sina.com.cn/c267101.html.
19.
Toffler, A. (1980) The Third Wave. New York: Morrow.
20.
West, D.M. (2001) An Assessment of City Government Websites, Brown University Urban E-Government.
21.
Yang, D.L. (2001) ‘The Great Net of China’, MFC Internet Update, URL: http://www.mfcinsight.com/article/010209/oped4.html
22.
Yang, L. (2001) ‘Zhengfu xinxi gongkai xu jiejue liuge wenti’ (‘Six Problems Need to be Solved for the Publicising of Government Information’), Zhongguo jingji shibao (China Economic Daily), 17 July.
23.
Zhang, J. (2001a): ‘China’s “Government Online” and Attempts to Gain Technical Legitimacy’, Asien (July): 93-115.
24.
Zhang, J. (2001b) ‘Venimus, Vidimus, Dolavimus - Ein Einblick in Chinas Vorbereitung auf einen digitalen Krieg’, Wissenschaft und Frieden (4): 37-41.
25.
Zhang, X. (2000) ‘Dianzi shangwu - zhongguo de xiwang he tiaozhan’ (’E-commerce - Hopes and Challenges for China’), People’s Daily, 2 February.
26.
Zhao, X. (2000) ‘Tuijin guojia xinxihua’ (’Promoting National Informatization’), speech at the Forum of IT Application for Chinese Enterprises, URL: http://www.chinabbc.com.cn
