Understanding Chinese nationalism: Does location matter?

Abstract Objective The purpose of this research is to explore whether the location of a citizen's residence is an important source of explanation for nationalistic attitudes in China. Methods Using data from a nationwide representative survey of Chinese adults and a multidimensional approach to nationalism, analyses include bivariate correlation and multiple regression. Results Significant support is found for 12 of 16 hypotheses linking “location variables” to specific types of nationalistic attitudes, even when modeling with a substantial set of controls. The hypothesis‐supporting evidence touches on three of the four dimensions of nationalism covered here. Conclusion In regard to the development of nationalistic attitudes in China, location matters.