Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett on the war in Gaza and domestic politics in Israel; Finnish president Alexander Stubb on the future of NATO and his recent trip to Kyiv; Nationalist social media backlash in China
Apr 8, 2024
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Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett discusses Gaza conflict and Israeli politics, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb talks NATO future and recent Kiev visit. They also cover China's nationalist social media backlash.
Zhang Shanshan faced attacks over patriotism in China's social media landscape, highlighting the influence of commercial interests and public sentiment.
Nationalist sentiments fuel online targeting of Chinese businesses, showcasing the unique dynamics of social media behavior in China.
Deep dives
Controversies and Criticisms: Online Outrage against Chinese Businesses and Businessmen
Online campaigns targeting international brands like Nike and H&M due to their statements on Xinjiang crackdown led to sales impacts. Recently, China's richest man, Zhang Shanshan, faced scrutiny for alleged lack of patriotism, with netizens questioning his Chinese identity based on branding and family associations. Despite significant market valuation losses for Zhang's company, the targeting appears more driven by online sentiment than government directive.
Nationalism and Social Media Behavior in China
The online targeting of Chinese businesses like Nongfu by nationalist sentiments raises questions on social media dynamics in China. The large online user base, incentivized by engagement-driven algorithms, fuels viral outrage over trivial issues like branding and citizenship associations. While government influence on such online behavior remains uncertain, the intersection of capitalism and Leninism manifests in a unique online environment where commercial incentives often amplify negativity and controversy.
Commercial and Engagement Incentives in Chinese Social Media
The blend of capitalism and Leninism shapes the landscape of Chinese social media, where influencers strive for engagement and fame to boost advertising revenue. Outrage-driven content garners more views and followers, enhancing the marketability of influencers. The dynamics of commercial incentives and engagement-driven algorithms contribute to the proliferation of online controversies and criticisms, showcasing the nuanced interplay of profit motives and online discourse in China.
This week on the show, Fareed speaks with former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett about the war in Gaza, and whether Israel’s current strategy can eradicate Hamas. They also discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political position, and whether Bennett might run to be Israel’s next prime minister.
Then, Finland’s new president Alexander Stubb joins the show to discuss his recent trip to Kyiv, the potential impact of a second Trump term on NATO, and why peace negotiations in Ukraine are still a long way off.
Finally, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, Cindy Yu, talks to Fareed about the social media backlash against China’s richest man.
GUESTS: Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett), Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb), Cindy Yu (@CindyXiaodanYu)