China's New Nationalism: Pride, Politics, and Diplomacy (Philip E. Lilienthal Books (Paperback))

Three American missiles hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, and what Americans view as an appalling and tragic mistake, many Chinese see as a "barbaric" and intentional "criminal act," the latest in a long series of Western aggressions against China. In this book, Peter Hays Gries explores the roles of perception and sentiment in the growth of popular nationalism in China. At a time when the direction of China's foreign and domestic policies have profound ramifications worldwide, Gries offers a rare, in-depth look at the nature of China's new nationalism, particularly as it involves Sino-American and Sino-Japanese relations--two bilateral relations that carry extraordinary implications for peace and stability in the twenty-first century. Through recent Chinese books and magazines, movies, television shows, posters, and cartoons, Gries traces the emergence of this new nationalism. Anti-Western sentiment, once created and encouraged by China's ruling PRC, has been taken up independently by a new generation of Chinese. Deeply rooted in narratives about past "humiliations" at the hands of the West and impassioned notions of Chinese identity, popular nationalism is now undermining the Communist Party's monopoly on political discourse, threatening the regime's stability. As readable as it is closely researched and reasoned, this timely book analyzes the impact that popular nationalism will have on twenty-first century China and the world.

"This book admirably fills a glaring gap in our understanding of how to think intelligently about China. Grounding his insights in an extensive survey of recent American and Chinese portrayals of the other country, the author demonstrates convincingly how even specialists can feed the 'fears and fantasies' that shape and distort our respective perceptions and reinforce the stereotypes that complicate the formulation of sound policy. Remarkably, the lessons are as valuable for Chinese readers as for American, for the general public as for the foreign policy expert."—J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China

"At the heart of the volatile Sino-American relationship is the interaction of perceptions, identities, and mass nationalism. Exploring multiple media, Peter Gries captures the caricatures, stereotypes, and mutual portrayals that demonize the 'other.' This book uncovers troubling implications about the 'inner structure' of U.S.-China relations and should be read by scholars, analysts, and policymakers alike."—David Shambaugh, George Washington University & The Brookings
Institution, author of Modernizing China's Military

"Gries, in full command of the Chinese media, has given us a lively and lucid interdisciplinary study of Chinese self-perception, bringing forward images of the US that have mostly worked to complicate communications in Sino-American relations. An excellent contribution to Chinese foreign-relations studies."—Allen Whiting, University of Arizona, author of The Chinese Calculus of Deterrence

"Provides an indispensable psychological dimension to the analysis of China's relations with America-especially important today when demonizing the other side has become commonplace on both sides of the Pacific Ocean."—Peter Van Ness, editor of Debating Human Rights: Critical Essays from the United States and Asia

"Three American missiles hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in May 1999. Americans view this event as an appalling and tragic mistake. Many Chinese see it as a "barbaric" and intentional "criminal act"--The latest in a long series of Western aggressions against China. Peter Hays Gries explores how perception and sentiment have influenced the growth of popular nationalism in China. At a time when China's foreign and domestic policies have profound ramifications worldwide, Gries offers a rare, in-depth look at the nature of China's new nationalism, particularly as it affects Sino-American and Sino-Japanese relations, two bilateral associations that carry extraordinary implications for peace and stability in the twenty-first century." "Gries traces the emergence of this new nationalism through recent Chinese books, magazines, movies, television shows, posters, and cartoons. Anti-Western sentiment, once created and encouraged by China's ruling PRC, has been taken up independently by a new generation of Chinese. Deeply rooted in narratives about past "humiliations" at the hands of the West and impassioned nations of Chinese identity, popular nationalism is now undermining the Communist Party's monopoly of political discourse, threatening the regime's stability. As readable as it is closely researched, this timely book analyzes the impact that popular nationalism will have on twenty-first century China and the world."--Jacket. Illustrations......Page 10 Introduction: Dragon Slayers and Panda Huggers......Page 12 1. Saving Face......Page 24 2. Chinese Identity and the “West”......Page 41 3. A “Century of Humiliation”......Page 54 4. The “Kissinger Complex”......Page 65 5. Victors or Victims?......Page 80 6. China’s Apology Diplomacy......Page 97 7. Popular Nationalism and the Fate of the Nation......Page 127 8. Chinese Nationalism and U.S.-China Relations in the Twenty-First Century......Page 146 Notes......Page 162 Bibliography......Page 192 Acknowledgments......Page 212 Index......Page 216 Introduction: Dragon-slayers and panda-huggers Saving face Chinese identity and "the West" A "Century of Humiliation" The "Kissinger complex" Victors or victims? China's apology diplomacy Popular nationalism and the fate of the nation Chinese nationalism and U.S. China policy in the 21st century.