Full Description
This book reconsiders the concept of Chinese citizenship through the lens of cultural traditions and their deep historical roots. It challenges the state's monolithic interpretation of culture, exploring how cultural practices influence citizenship in modern China.
The contributors to this volume examine how various actors, from government forces to grassroots activists, engage in culture-informed citizenship practices. They highlight the role of political ideology, spirituality, Confucianism, and minority religious traditions in shaping citizenship discourse. By broadening the understanding of Chinese citizenship beyond its Western-centric frameworks, this book delves into issues of socioeconomic injustice, cultural recognition, and the negotiation of civic rights. Readers are offered new perspectives on how China's unique cultural heritage intertwines with its political structures, providing a nuanced understanding of citizenship in rapidly changing societies. This thought-provoking analysis will engage anyone interested in Chinese politics, culture, and the development of citizenship in a global context.
The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Citizenship Studies.
Contents
Introduction: reconsidering Chinese citizenship: cultural roots and cultural reach 1. From ethnic segregation to equal political status: the making of the concept of citizenship in early modern China 2. Creating the governable population: authoritarian cultural citizenship and the ethnic minorities in a Sino-Tibetan intercultural area in contemporary China 3. Affecting belonging: experimental education, cultural resources, and affective cultural citizenship in contemporary China 4. Confucian education, cultural responsibility, and Chinese identity: why do Chinese immigrant parents engage their children in learning Confucian classics? 5. Islam, Chineseness and citizenship: Sinicizing Muslim minority, becoming Chinese citizen 6. Christianity and the negotiation of citizenship in Hong Kong: an account of faith-based active citizenship 7. What does the ideal citizen look like in China's new era? A bottom-up view
