Seeking China's New Identity: The Myth of Chinese Nationalism.

Nationalism has been used in clichéd and hegemonic discourses of the West to describe China’s national feeling. In this article, the author first analyzes the epistemological, political and globalization origins of the myth of Chinese nationalism, which are embodied in political nationalism, ethnic nationalism and cultural nationalism. He argues that to shape a new Chinese national identity through modifying the so-called “new nationalism” is merely to continue the myth of Chinese nationalism in the new era. The author then puts forward a new analysis of framework of “of the nation-by the nation-for the nation” and “nationalization stage – modernization stage – internationalization stage”. He points out that the future of Chinese national identity should include three aspects: an open and inclusive national spirit, a harmonious national character, and a moderate sense of national pride. As the largest developing country in the world and a rising world power, China has to achieve modernization and internationalization at the same time and to unite the motherland, accomplishing the whole task at one stroke and binding together the trinity of historical traditions, international trends and world identity. In the course of building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity, China is seeking her new identity as a responsible country. Finally the author concludes that China’s peaceful development is shaping China’s new identity and will necessarily destroy all kinds of myths about Chinese nationalism. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]