The Dilemma and Promotion of Chinese Nationalism: Xinjiang Cotton Incident as a Case Study

Abstract

This article explores the mechanisms and experiences of how nationalism in post-Deng Xiaoping China’s leadership played a role in the Xinjiang Cotton Incident in March 2021. By adopting reflective approach and various theories, it depicts how nationalism consolidates the legitimacy of authority, revealing two sides of the coin. Influenced by ideopolitical education and the emphasis on the internet in guiding public opinion since the Jiang Zemin era, people’s general response to the incident was basically on a par with official discourse, which is sentimental. The article concludes by commenting on China’s advantages and difficulties in governance by controlling irrational nationalism.