Polihot

CQ 266 pp. 365-384 2026-04-15 Original Governing through Visibility: Local Government Experimentation with Internet Celebrity Cities in China Lu Liu, Yahua Wang Abstract Abstract The rise of internet celebrity cities has become one of the most striking phenomena in China since 2021. How do local governments respond and harness this trend to advance their development goals? This study focuses on local experimentation in creating such cities, drawing on the case of the Village Football Super League ( Cun chao 村超) in Guizhou. We identify policy entrepreneurship as a key driver of local experimentation and highlight three core strategies for creating internet celebrity cities: crafting local symbols, co-producing viral content and mitigating public opinion risk. Further analysis shows that this experimentation, by attracting massive public attention, simultaneously promotes economic growth, strengthens social cohesion, reinforces state narratives and projects China’s national image onto the global stage. Overall, the findings suggest an emerging model in which public attention becomes a core resource for local development and governance in China’s digital era.

PAR — 2026-04-15 Original Digital Sentiments: Toward a Theory of Emotions in Digital Governance Galina Vissoky, Eran Vigoda‐Gadot, Evgeny M. Styrin

JOP — 2026-04-14 Original Understanding Nimbyism as Local Preservationism Martin Vinæs Larsen, Niels Nyholt Abstract Responding to important societal challenges requires physical changes in local communities. Yet, such changes are often blocked by strong ``not-in-my-backyard'' opposition. Existing research explains this nimbyism in terms of homeowners' interest in protecting property values or an intent to exclude poor people and racial minorities. Instead, we argue that nimbyism reflects a desire to preserve the physical character of one's neighborhood. We investigate this local preservationism explanation using a large-scale vignette survey experiment, asking respondents to evaluate a hypothetical project we place on a personalized map of their neighborhood. Our analyses show that most residents have strong feelings about how their local area looks, and that those who do not exhibit less nimby opposition. We also show that citizens exhibit less nimby opposition towards projects that fit into the local built environment. In contrast, we find limited evidence for explanations related to home values and social exclusion.

JOP — 2026-04-14 Original Social Desirability Bias In Online Surveys: An Experimental Assessment Daniel Bischof, Tim Lars Allinger, Kristian Frederiksen, Morgan Le Corre Juratic

PMR — pp. 1-28 2026-04-14 Original Libraries in a changing society: resourcing value propositions for viability and societal relevance Tiina Tuominen, Kirsi Hyytinen, Paul Windrum Abstract In the age of rapid societal change and resource constraints, public service organizations must revise their value propositions to remain relevant. Although prior research emphasizes practice-based learning and adaptability, limited attention has been given to how public service organizations renew their value propositions. This paper addresses this gap by applying the concept of resourcing. It develops a conceptual framework grounded in resourcing and illustrates its relevance through an analysis of public libraries that have successfully redefined their value propositions and societal position. The findings identify five resourcing tactics, demonstrating how public service organizations can innovate despite ongoing resource limitations.

PA — 2026-04-13 Original What Works for Whom? Exploring the Determinants and Hierarchical Tensions of Public Network Effectiveness: A Configurational Analysis Yulong Jie, Shuigen Hu

PMR — pp. 1-27 2026-04-13 Original Taking the reins or taking the ride: the impact of online interactions on citizens’ perceptions of equity in public services

APSR — pp. 1-13 2026-04-13 Original Reassessing Gendered Reactions to Terrorist Attacks: Slumps or Bumps? YUSAKU HORIUCHI, MARTHA C. JOHNSON Abstract In a recent article published in this journal, Holman, Merolla, and Zechmeister (2022; 2024) report a decrease in support for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May following the 2017 Manchester bombing, using data from the British Election Studies. Our analysis, however, reveals that once a linear time trend is considered, the bombing does not significantly affect public reactions. We replicate their study with Gallup World Poll data and likewise find no decline in May’s approval rating. Extending the analysis, we examine major terrorist attacks in African countries led by men and similarly find no rally effect. Together, these results cast doubt on terrorism’s capacity to trigger rally ’round the flag dynamics and challenge claims of a gendered pattern whereby women leaders face unique penalties in crises. We argue that broader comparative evidence is necessary before concluding whether citizens rally around, or retreat from, leaders in the wake of terrorism.

PMR — pp. 1-31 2026-04-13 Original How NGOs facilitate value co-creation through multilevel and processual mechanisms: evidence from China Shuang Tan, Yu Du, Xiaonan Wang Abstract This study traces the evolution of nongovernmental organization (NGO) actions in China’s waste incineration risk governance through a longitudinal analysis of the Incineration Issue Strategic Group. Findings show that NGOs facilitate value co-creation (VCC) through continuous value awakening, co-design, co-production, co-experience, and co-construction. We propose multilevel and processual mechanisms: spatially, NGOs optimize actor networks and resource integration within public service ecosystems; temporally, they enable sustained co-creation through dynamic iterations. This study expands VCC phase models, clarifying the unique role of NGOs in facilitating VCC within public service ecosystems. It also provides a replicable model for NGO engagement under state-dominated regimes.

CQ 266 pp. 385-399 2026-04-13 Original From Contention to Clientelism: Evidence from the Ten-Year Fishing Ban in China Jingping Liu Abstract Abstract How do ordinary Chinese people circumvent unpopular state policies? The existing literature primarily focuses on resistance against local bureaucrats. Drawing on ethnographic research on the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River Basin, this article finds that fishermen (clients) continue to fish by maintaining patron–client relationships with the enforcers of the fishing ban (patrons). Ordinary fishermen seek the protection of enforcers through bribery. Enhanced state monitoring under the fishing ban facilitates bribery-based clientelism by weakening the fishermen’s everyday resistance, but it also constrains the power of enforcers by increasing the risk that their corruption will be discovered by upper-level authorities. For extremely poor fishermen, who are barely able to afford to pay bribes, their daily acts of resistance are morally justified by the need for subsistence safety, presenting enforcers with a dilemma: they must fulfil their law enforcement duties while also ensuring the survival of these individuals to maintain social stability. Therefore, cultivating a clientelist relationship with impoverished fishermen enables enforcers to manage their noncompliance, thereby balancing these conflicting goals. While clientelism protects people from unpopular policies to some extent, it more fundamentally strengthens the power of local bureaucrats, creating the potential for greater exploitation and larger-scale popular grievances in the long run.