The psychosocial foundation of China’s state-led nationalism

Existing research extensively documents the Communist Party of China's strategic utilisation of nationalism to bolster its legitimacy, primarily through shaping the nationalist belief system in alignment with its political agenda and historical narrative. However, this article proposes an additional viewpoint: the success of the state-led nationalist endeavour also hinges on resonating with the common psychological traits of the Chinese masses. Without such resonance, the nationalist project may encounter resistance. Therefore, this article posits that Chinese face culture constitutes a foundational aspect of the common psychological makeup of the Chinese people. It serves as a frame for the Party-state to construct nationalist narratives and beliefs, fostering sentiments of national pride, shame, and attitudes towards international affairs. Key discourses such as 'the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation', 'the century of humiliation', and 'the backward will be beaten' symbolically appeal to Chinese notions of face and contribute to the narrative's effectiveness.