Party and the patriot

There is a lively debate in political science on whether nationalism is bad for democracy. While an overwhelming majority suggests that nationalism, by virtue of its illiberal nature (since it elevates collective identity over individual liberty and choice), could threaten democracy, some scholars insist that under certain circumstances, nationalism might facilitate the spread of democracy. For instance, to the extent that a strong national identity is a prerequisite for building a democratic nation-state, nationalism could be a positive force. In addition, nationalism could rally different groups in the overthrow of a dictatorship.

It is unlikely that this theoretical question will ever be settled at a general or abstract level anytime soon. But what is clear, at least to people with enough common sense, is that the relationship between nationalism and democracy is most likely determined by a specific national context.

With such observations in mind, we may now explore a real but important question: is Chinese nationalism bad for democracy?

In the last two decades, China's rise has been accompanied by a disquieting phenomenon — rising nationalism. Survey data, press reports and scholarly research all indicate a heightened level of nationalist sentiments. To be sure, these sentiments are diverse. Genuine pride in China's rapid modernisation constitutes one strand. Resentment of the West for criticising China's human rights record forms another. In particular, anger at the United States for its perceived "containment" strategy against China is a key ingredient of contemporary Chinese nationalism. A sense of national victimhood, drawn from China's humiliation at the hands of Western powers from 1840 to 1949 (often referred to as the "century of humiliation"), similarly informs many Chinese nationalists today.

Resurgent nationalism presents the ruling Chinese Communist Party with both opportunities and risks. The party came to power by exploiting Chinese nationalism and presented itself as the defender of China's national honour. The founding myth of the People's Republic is essentially a tale of how the Communist Party fought heroically for China's national survival and ended the country's "century of humiliation". Although historical research has uncovered vital inaccuracies and falsehood in the party's claims (for instance, the much-reviled old nationalist regime, not the communists, actually did most of the fighting against the Japanese), the party has been extraordinarily successful in maintaining this mythology, in part thanks to its ruthless but effective censorship.

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