The ‘Gridded Management’ System in China’s ‘War Against COVID-19’

Along with China’s long-delayed response to the COVID-19 outbreak is its nationwide activation of the ‘gridded management’ system. Relying largely on the mass recruitment of the war-time rhetoric and ideology in mobilizing the people to watch and tell on each other, this ‘gridded management’ system is officially highlighted as playing a key role in China’s combat against COVID-19. Through examining the operation of the ‘gridded management’ system, this paper discusses the harms it has done on human rights and dignity. Drawing upon a historical analysis of the systems assuming the similar function of self-policing in ancient and communist China, this paper proposes the potential harm the ‘gridded management’ system may produce on communal trust, which is arguably the cornerstone of populist authoritarianism in China.