ABSTRACT
This conclusion provides some closing thoughts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book presents a cyberdualistic picture of the educated young elite. Internet exposure to horizontal communication among netizens and to vertical communication between government and netizens yield different results. Statistical evidence confirms that exposure to horizontal communication promotes democratic orientation, enhances political resistance to indoctrination, and boosts popular nationalism. By contrast, exposure to vertical communication increases regime support and, at a less significant level, decreases democratic orientation and elevates official patriotism. The Chinese government also manages to promote regime support, reduce resistance to political education, and enhance official patriotism via the Internet indirectly. The overall effect of Internet exposure depends on the broad political atmosphere and the real intentions of the government in regulating the horizontal communication and managing the vertical communication. The Cybersecurity Law forces Internet service providers to side with the state and impose strong and efficient censorship that may deter netizens.
