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Opinion | Why nationalism succeeds in China but has failed in the West
- The past four years have reminded Western countries that the appeal of nationalism is universal – it can flourish more easily in authoritarian states like China, but is an immensely powerful force everywhere
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Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a fiery nationalistic speech on the 70th anniversary of China’s involvement in the Korean war. After declaring that China earned “peace and respect through victory”, Xi explained that Beijing has nothing to fear from “any country and any army, no matter how powerful they used to be” – the United States, in other words.
Nationalism is a central component of the Chinese state’s legitimacy, especially since Xi became president. Key parts of Xi Jinping Thought, which has been enshrined in the preamble of China’s Constitution, pertain to the reassertion of Chinese economic, political and military power.
From the Belt and Road Initiative to the expansion and modernisation of China’s armed forces, Beijing is exerting its power more widely than ever before. And one of the most powerful engines of this rise is a revived and strengthened Chinese nationalism.
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The resurgence of nationalism around the world has been one of the most closely watched international developments of the past decade – from US President Donald Trump’s election in 2016 and the Brexit referendum that same year to the success of nationalist parties across Europe and in countries such as Brazil.
However, many of these nationalist gains are being rolled back: former vice-president Joe Biden has defeated Trump in the US election; far more Britons now say they would vote to remain in the EU if the referendum were held today (56.8 per cent versus 34.9 per cent who would still vote to leave); and support for nationalist parties in Germany, France, Italy and other European countries has declined.
02:12
China stages high-profile ceremony to welcome home remains of 117 soldiers killed in Korean war
China stages high-profile ceremony to welcome home remains of 117 soldiers killed in Korean war
While nationalism is fundamental to China’s rise, it hasn’t taken hold in Western democracies as many feared it would just a few years ago.
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