From Empire to Nation-State: War, Emulation, and National Identity in China
P8-S199-2
Presented by: Peng Peng
This article investigates when, why, and how national identity emerged in late-developing
countries, with a particular focus on China. Our argument centers on the role of war as a
catalyst for two distinct psychological mechanisms: enmity (humiliation and other negative
emotions) and emulation (learning from adversaries). While conventional wisdom emphasizes
enmity, we propose that emulation—a forward-looking approach where latecomers learn about
nationhood from their rivals—also plays a crucial role. To test this theory, we analyze two
newly compiled datasets from historical newspapers spanning the period 1872–1911, a time
of significant transformation for China as it transitioned from the Qing Empire to the Republic.
We focus on the use of “Zhongguo” as a marker of national identity and find that wars triggered
a substantial increase in the frequency and proportion of references to “Zhongguo” in Chinese
newspapers. Further qualitative evidence supports our theory. This study highlights the critical
role of war in nation-building and how national identity is fostered through learning from
others.
countries, with a particular focus on China. Our argument centers on the role of war as a
catalyst for two distinct psychological mechanisms: enmity (humiliation and other negative
emotions) and emulation (learning from adversaries). While conventional wisdom emphasizes
enmity, we propose that emulation—a forward-looking approach where latecomers learn about
nationhood from their rivals—also plays a crucial role. To test this theory, we analyze two
newly compiled datasets from historical newspapers spanning the period 1872–1911, a time
of significant transformation for China as it transitioned from the Qing Empire to the Republic.
We focus on the use of “Zhongguo” as a marker of national identity and find that wars triggered
a substantial increase in the frequency and proportion of references to “Zhongguo” in Chinese
newspapers. Further qualitative evidence supports our theory. This study highlights the critical
role of war in nation-building and how national identity is fostered through learning from
others.
Keywords: nation-building, political elites, China, state-building