
China
Inventing the Nation
Henrietta Harrison(Author)
Hodder Arnold (Publisher)
Published on 31. August 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-340-74134-4 (ISBN)
Description
Both Western historians and Chinese nationalists have argued that from early times China had the features of a nation state: a common language, culture, and bureaucracy. This argument is important not only because it affects our understanding of how nations are constructed but also because Chinese nationalism is today a vital ingredient in both the domestic politics of the People's Republic of China and the international relations of East Asia. This book argues that China as it exists today was invented through the construction of a modern state. It describes the attitudes of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Chinese towards identity and ethnicity and how these interacted with the structure of the state. It then describes the development of a new culture as part of the efforts to build a modern nation state that could resist the Western imperial powers. Finally it describes how, during the course of the twentieth century, this new culture tied to modern nationalism has been spread from the cities into rural China. The book argues that China has not been an exception to the process of the invention of nations.
Instead, its differences arise from the complexities of the relationship between nationalism and imperialism. Moreover, the role of imperialism was not limited to Western empires: the Manchu Qing empire played quite as significant a role in the construction of the modern Chinese nation state as did imported European ideologies.
Instead, its differences arise from the complexities of the relationship between nationalism and imperialism. Moreover, the role of imperialism was not limited to Western empires: the Manchu Qing empire played quite as significant a role in the construction of the modern Chinese nation state as did imported European ideologies.
Reviews / Votes
'This book provides many important insights into Chinese nationalism as seen through Chinese behaviour.' Pacific AffairsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
446 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-340-74134-4 (9780340741344)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Person
Henrietta Harrison is Professor of History at Harvard University.
Content
Part 1 A common culture: the Manchu Empire. Part 2 Constructing a modern nation - the world of nation states: the creation of modern nationalism; ethnicity and modernity in the 1911 revolution; nation, modernity and class. Part 3 Nationalism and imperialism - the growth of nationalism as an ideology: nationalism and the party state; war, nationalism and identity; state building and nation building. Part 4 The emergence of alternative nationalisms?.