Nationalism, National Identity and Democratization in China [Hardcover]

Baogang He (Author), Yingjie Guo (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1840147806 | ISBN-13: 978-1840147803 | Publication Date: December 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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Pub Ltd (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1840147806
• ISBN-13: 978-1840147803
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,380,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book Explaining Nationalism in China, August 26, 2004

By 

Stephan Ortmann (Erlangen, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nationalism, National Identity and Democratization in China (Hardcover)

This book is one of the best academic books that I have ever read. It is clearly organized and well written. It lays out its methodology and its interpretation of the difficult concept of nationalism, which is like many books based on Benedict Anderson's "Imagined Communities". It is a very descriptive as well as objective book of nationalism and the forces that create a national identity. It compares China to the Soviet Union and Taiwan and comes to the conclusion that Chinese nationalism is opposed to democracy.

Another person who has reviewed this title did not even read this book (or failed to understand the text). The quote mentioned actually should read: "Chen Xi recognizes nationalist fears of the USA, but opposes them, making use of nationalistic emotions to carry out an ideological war against the USA." The book also contains far more text than is suggested!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor Value-- Lacks Analysis, August 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nationalism, National Identity and Democratization in China (Hardcover)

This book was POORLY written. I am an authority on the issues- and there was no analysis. The so-called "book" simply represents the rantings of a nationalist. On page 193 of his book, he even *advocates*: "...MAKING USE OF [Chinese]NATIONALISTIC EMOTIONS TO CARRY OUT AN IDEOLOGICAL WAR AGAINST THE U.S.A." Why should I bother to critique this book? I believe his statements speak VOLUMES...he's done the work for me.

Out of the 240 pages in this book, only about 80 of the pages contain written material, the rest are appendicies, footnotes and the writing trips and falls over itself into half-baked, obscure and unintelligible oblivion.

I love China and its people and its culture, so this book truly saddens me.