Social Credit System in the People's Republic of China Cover Image

Social Credit System w Chińskiej Republice Ludowej
Social Credit System in the People's Republic of China

Author(s): Tomasz Wójtowicz
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Media studies, Civil Society, Governance, Public Administration, Public Law, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Electoral systems, Welfare systems, Developing nations, Political behavior, Political economy, Political psychology, Politics and law, Politics and communication, Politics and society, Social psychology and group interaction, Management and complex organizations, Studies in violence and power, Family and social welfare, Policy, planning, forecast and speculation, Nationalism Studies, Welfare services, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Social Norms / Social Control, Penal Policy, Globalization, Politics and Identity, Identity of Collectives, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Dolnośląskiej Szkoły Wyższej
Keywords: People’s Republic of China; social credit system; internal security;mass surveillance;

Summary/Abstract: Mass surveillance programmes and the impact of new information technologies on privacy restriction are among the greatest threats and challenges faced by modern countries. This article aims to present the origins and functional vision of, and some critical remarks on, the Social Credit System (SCS) under development in the People’s Republic of China. The underlying research issue arising from the assumed objective was to respond to the following questions: What is the SCS developed in the People’s Republic of China? What are its origins? How exactly does it function? The following research methods were used to solve the research queries: the monograph method, the document analysis method, the literature analysis and critique method, and the analysis and synthesis methods. In view of the preliminary investigation, the author formulated the following research hypothesis: the SCS should be viewed in a broader sense than merely as a programme aimed at conducting mass supervision of the Chinese society and preventing threats of separatism, terrorism, and social riot (colour revolutions). It is one of the tools to shape a society based on traditional Chinese values and national identity: loyalty, harmony, integrity, and fairness ‒ a disciplined society which, along with a strong and innovative economy, will enable China to attain the status of global power, thus questioning the American “unipolar world order”. Although China is not a democratic country, the system’s success can contribute to implementing similar solutions in other Asian countries. Therefore, it appears justified to conduct studies focused on the SCS.

  • Issue Year: 14/2020
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 38-54
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish