Populist Protests and the Dynamic Zero-COVID Policy: (Re)emerging Pragmatic Populism in China

Abstract

Populist protests in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have recently emerged as a reaction against the Chinese authorities’ stringent measures under its dynamic zero-COVID policy. Besides the vehement criticism and protests against the dynamic zero-COVID policy, during some protests, there have been ensuing calls across the country for President Xi Jinping to step down. The article argues that this scenario can further deteriorate the overall political legitimacy of the Communist Party of China on a long-term basis. According to the article, the protests indicate the re-emergence of populism in the PRC, which incidentally and historically has parallels to the protests at Tiananmen Square, and the 1919 May Fourth Movement. The article theorizes John Dewey’s concept of ‘pragmatic populism’ and the aspect of protests during the period, which inherently provides many ideational and relational facets with the recent protests in China.