The existing literature shows that the grieved people, such as laid-off workers and peasants, can use the divisions within the government and seek for the external supports through the personal network to protect their rights or achieve their goals. This thesis focuses on the middle class people in the city, i.e., homeowners....[ Read more ]

The existing literature shows that the grieved people, such as laid-off workers and peasants, can use the divisions within the government and seek for the external supports through the personal network to protect their rights or achieve their goals. This thesis focuses on the middle class people in the city, i.e., homeowners.

By illustrating two cases happened in Shenzhen, this thesis finds that the Internet can be utilized as an independent tool to organize and mobilize the common people, voice out their concern, and fight for their rights, even though these homeowners are relatively unknown to each other and live in the new neighborhoods. Enough participants can be mobilized to join in the sustained resistances. The government has to respond to the sustained collective resistances.