The Oligarchy Tendency of Public Opinion: A Rethinking on Applicable Boundary of the Spiral of Silence

GUO Xiaoan

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5) : 51-65.

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5) : 51-65.

The Oligarchy Tendency of Public Opinion: A Rethinking on Applicable Boundary of the Spiral of Silence

  • Guo Xiaoan is researcher and doctoral supervisor at the Journalism School of Chongqing University.
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Abstract

The theory of Silence Spiral reveals public opinion tendency of “oligarchs” in essence, explains the public opinion’s “imperfection” rather than "irrational" state. The spiral can be divided into two directions, top-down and bottom-up. The true sense of "Anti-silence Spiral” refers to the diversity of opinions within the “opinions of free market”. The network environment of China is suitable for the "Silence Spiral Theory”, for the more apparent perception of the opinion climate, the strong morality of public events, the powerful emotional mobilization, the extremes of public opinion and the outstanding phenomenon of populism. Therefore, thinking about its adaptability in different social and cultural situations, is of great significance to reread Neumann’s “Silence Spiral Theory”.

Key words

the spiral of silence / tendency of oligarchs / anti-silence spiral

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GUO Xiaoan. The Oligarchy Tendency of Public Opinion: A Rethinking on Applicable Boundary of the Spiral of Silence[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2015, 37(5): 51-65

Funding

the major interdisciplinary project of Chongqing University: “study on the mechanism of emotional mobilization in Chinese network resistance”. (Project number:CQDXWL-2014-Z010)

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