So as anyone dealing with Internet in China, I constantly hear conversations about Chinese firewall. People repeat already well-publicized critism of Chinese government for blocking content/sites. However truth is, considering the time & place, I believe it should be here. Now before you slam a few “*” words at this post and go about reading something else, let me make my case.

Indeed, from my personal perspective this is quite annoying and prevents me from accessing sites I’ve gotten used to over the years. However, looking at it from a perspective of 99% Chinese Internet users - they never knew those sites, and nor should they have! Why - because they have their own local internet market, and just because U.S. companies don’t receive as much traffic as they want, doesn’t mean these internet users don’t get services for their demand.

Of course one might make a case that they don’t have potential to voice their criticism or expand their civilian rights. All I have to say to that - is it at all useful when masses of people are able to voice “their” criticism? Just look at any western country, particularly U.S. (for the sake of simplicity). Just because the majority has the right to “freedom of speech”, it doesn’t necessary mean this “freedom” is used consciously. Ninety-nine percent still follow the words of the two major media networks (political parties), and who is to say: that is the better way for personal expression. With all restrictions that people are perceived to have put on them in China, they are actually quite content and can express themselves  all they want within their circles. Just because someone in the west can go out yelling what big media brother had put in him, doesn’t mean there is more concious thinking going on.

Contrary to majority’s perception, China doesn’t have a single individual power center. In this country, power is divided in two ways. First of all, there is a huge unorganized bureaucracy on a local level with every official thinking he is a big boss in the overall picture. And secondly, “the heads of states” are so numerous with so many direct influences, that there just isn’t one tyrant to come and turn this country around. Don’t take me wrong, Germany has proved that any civilized country is capable of self-destruction. My point is simple – China is by far the most safe and subsequently stable country when it comes to keeping ideological rulers at bay.

Finally, don’t think I say these things lightly. There are obviously major lags in how people in this country conciously perceive the world events. However, this is not due to current limits, but rather due to many years of complete isolation and constant propaganda. And unlike Estern-European countries that had modern civilized societies prior to 20 century, China has become one only during this period. All of this is very important to understand, if one is to understand the current and future of this “soon-to-be” dynamic country.

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