Description
This title was first published in 2000: This text aims to provide a clear understanding of the complex relationship that exists between nationalism, national identity, the state, the direction and trend of China's transition and the subsequent prospects for democratization. While describing the rise of Chinese nationalism and the accompanying discourse on Chinese national identity, it focuses on the national identity question and its impact on democratization. The text argues that Chinese nationalism is not monolithic and that popular Chinese nationalism attempts to exclude the role of the party-state in defining national identity. Most importantly, it has the potential to demand democratic reform and push for democratization in China. Nevertheless, the alliance between nationalism and democracy will expedient. Chinese nationalism, whether official or popular, comes into conflict with democracy when it confronts the national identity/boundary problem. They clash with each other where territoriality is involved. The Chinese nationalist solution to the problem is logically and inherently opposed to the contemporary trend towards democracy.
Table of Contents
1 Conceptual Introduction 2 State Nationalism in Post-4th June China 3 Patriotic Villains and Patriotic Heroes: New trends in literary nationalism 4 Reimagining the Nation: The ‘Zeng Guofan phenomenon’ 5 The National Identity Question, Nationalism and Democratization in China and Taiwan 6 Nationalism, National Identity, Elites, and Democratization in Russia and China 7 The Clash between State Nationalism and Democratization over the National Identity Question 8 Concluding Remarks
