Xi Jinping on Nationalism
TL;DR
Xi Jinping champions a muscular, state-centric nationalism that reaffirms CCP rule and promotes national rejuvenation against perceived foreign hostility.
Key Points
The Patriotic Education Campaign was intensified by Xi to reaffirm the CCP's rule as economic growth slowed, shifting focus to targeting external "others."
The concept of "ruhua," or an insult to China, is frequently mobilized by online nationalists to enforce loyalty and attack perceived slights against national dignity.
China's identity is framed through both its historical victimhood and its reemerging great power status, which drives assertive foreign policy actions like those in the South China Sea.
Summary
Xi Jinping has intensified the Chinese Communist Party's use of nationalism as a core pillar of legitimacy, especially as economic growth has slowed. This nationalistic drive centers on a compelling historical narrative—the "Century of Humiliation"—and a forward-looking vision known as the "China Dream," which is centered on making China a globally admired power. This campaign targets perceived "others" and "anti-China" foreign forces, framing any criticism of the regime as an unpatriotic act or an attempt by hostile powers to thwart China's rise. The ideology fuses Marxist thought with cultural conservatism, demanding the subordination of personal aspirations to the state's collective dream, such as achieving a "strong military."
This assertive form of nationalism cultivates a generation of fiercely loyal young patriots, often referred to as "little pinks," who are highly sensitive to perceived slights against China, or "ruhua." While nationalism is successfully used by the state to rally domestic support and justify an increasingly proactive foreign policy, it is a volatile tool. If the regime fails to deliver on nationalist promises, such as successfully navigating crises like the COVID-19 pandemic or responding forcefully to diplomatic provocations, it risks domestic backlash, as evidenced by the 2022 street protests. This dynamic forces the leadership into a predicament where retreating on dignity issues invites domestic criticism, but pressing too hard risks international isolation.
Key Quotes
China is in the best development period of modern times, and the world is in a state of profound change on a scale unseen in a century.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xi Jinping views nationalism as a critical ideological force for reinforcing the Chinese Communist Party's legitimacy and supporting China's global ambitions. He has actively promoted a muscular form of nationalism through education campaigns that emphasize national rejuvenation and the targeting of perceived foreign threats.
Under his leadership, the state's promotion of nationalism has become more assertive, moving beyond simply affirming the positive aspects of China to actively targeting and framing Western powers as hostile forces. This shift occurs as the Party relies less on pure economic performance for its legitimacy.
His campaign has successfully cultivated a new, fiercely patriotic generation intolerant of criticism toward the CCP regime. However, this intense nationalism is a double-edged sword, as public disappointment following major policy failures, like the zero-COVID policy, can quickly turn popular anger toward the state and Xi himself.
Sources6
The Patriotic Education Campaign in Xi's China: The Emergence of a New Generation of Nationalists
Understanding Chinese Nationalism in the Xi Jinping Era – Synergy
From Deng to Xi, China's Foreign Policy Identity Has Been Consistent | GJIA
Xi Jinping Strategy: A Janus-Faced Predicament of Nationalism and its Implications for Indo-Pacific Security
On Xi Jinping: How Xi's Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World | Oxford Academic
Make the past serve the present: cultural confidence and Chinese nationalism in Xi Jinping thought
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.