Survey

CQ 266 pp. 491-505 2026-05-29 Original How the Chinese Public Perceives South-East Asia: Affinity, Annoyance and Apprehension Enze Han Abstract Abstract This article explores how the Chinese public perceives South-East Asia. Using original survey data collected in China, it suggests three perceptual frames. The “affinity” frame, which is rooted in historical Chinese migration and diaspora ties, generates feelings of kinship and cultural connection. Conversely, the “annoyance” frame stems from contemporary geopolitical tensions, particularly South China Sea disputes, where several South-East Asian countries are viewed as provocateurs challenging China’s regional authority. The “apprehension” frame characterizes the region as exotic yet dangerous, a perception reinforced by recent cyber scams and criminal activities targeting Chinese citizens, creating stereotypes of South-East Asia as lawless and unsafe. The article analyses the survey data for the statistical distribution of these frames and discusses their political implications. By exploring how historical ties, geopolitical tensions and security concerns simultaneously shape Chinese public opinion, the article illuminates the complex perceptual landscape that may influence China’s diplomatic and economic relations with South-East Asia.

PSJ — 2026-03-24 Original Democratic Values in Citizen Participation: What Citizens Prioritize in Participation Take Sipma, Frank Hendriks Abstract ABSTRACT Citizen participation is often initiated to strengthen democracy. While participatory innovations are typically assessed through normative frameworks emphasizing democratic values, little is known about which of these values are prioritized by citizens. This research note presents findings from an original survey conducted in the Netherlands in 2024, investigating which democratic values citizens prioritize in the context of citizen participation. Drawing on Hendriks' (2022) democratic values typology including inclusiveness, process fairness, efficaciousness, resilience and counterbalance, we operationalize five value statements and asked respondents to rank them. Citizens most frequently prioritize efficacious outcomes and fair procedures, while inclusiveness, resilience, and counterbalance receive less emphasis. This pattern highlights the central role of both effective governance and procedural fairness in citizen participation. Value priorities nevertheless vary across citizens: inclusiveness, understood as the inclusion of diverse perspectives, is more strongly emphasized by left‐wing citizens, whereas counterbalance is primarily prioritized by politically dissatisfied citizens, but remains a lower overall priority. These findings offer an exploratory first step in linking normative frameworks on democratic values with how citizens themselves prioritize those values.