Zhifan Luo

Concordia University Montreal · Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Following a burgeoning literature on private actors under digital authoritarianism, this study aims to understand the role played by social media users in sustaining authoritarian rule. It examines a subcultural community-the queer-fantasy community-on Chinese social media to expound how members of this community interpreted China's censorship poli...

This chapter aims to depict a practical roadmap for scholars who are interested in incorporating Weibo into their research. It offers a basic guide on how to navigate the research cycle from design to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. We first introduce Weibo as a distinct media platform in the global context and illustrate the rationa...

The divides between social groups in American society today extend from political opinion to lifestyle and emotions. A less explored area, however, is how these divides relate to potential divides in morality. The Habermasian conceptualization of the public sphere prioritizes deliberative reasoning as a way to solve moral conflicts. In contrast, th...

The prevalence of health misinformation on social media could significantly influence individuals’ health behaviors. To examine the prevalent topics, propagation, and correction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) misinformation, automated content analyses were conducted for posts on Sina Weibo, which is China’s largest microblogging site. In to...

After decades of military reform, how does the Chinese military justify its persistent role in politics and social life? This mixed-methods study examines the discursive strategies used by military deputies to understand how a semi-professional military speak to its relations to the Party, its own organizational missions and goals, and potential co...

The body of literature on underrepresentation and gender inequality is vast. However, despite its potential to perpetuate gender stereotypes, the overrepresentation of women in media has received inadequate attention. This study explores how traditional news media and social media overrepresent females as drivers when discussing traffic accidents,...

In recent years China has positioned itself as a global economic leader, working through its “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to not only expand its global economic reach, but to organize and lead global economic relations. China’s rise is largely understood in economic terms, but the history of glob...

The Artistry of Historical Sociology: Interviews with Leading Scholars is a collection of interviews by the author, Taihui Guo, with leading Western historical sociologists, or more accurately, historically minded social scientists. In the 15 semi-structured interviews, Guo explores with the interviewees their understanding of historical sociology...

The decline of a hegemon can create openings for lesser powers to expand their influence in the world-system. Is this what China is currently attempting to do? This paper contributes to this on-going debate by examining China’s arms transfer activities from a historical perspective. Using data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institu...