Reability of Public Opinion Polls in China

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Abstract

The current international situation has increased the importance of analyzing public opinion in the PRC. But the specificity of Chinese society allows critics of the PRC to put forward arguments (lack of a “democratic public”, self-censorship of respondents, suspicions regarding political censorship, non-representative samples) against such an enterprise. This article systematically examines and refutes these arguments. The undertaken analysis shows that they are either easily overcome, since they are based on fragmentary data, or, with no less reason, should be addressed to all studies of public opinion in the world. This makes it possible to rely on polling data in the PRC and analyze public opinion trends with their help, although such an analysis should take into account the likelihood of self-censorship of respondents, common for any society, and the fact that most samples in China represent, first of all, the most active urban population.

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About the authors

Li Qin

Southeast University

Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, PRC

Nikolay S. Babich

Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS; RUDN University

Russian Federation, Moscow

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