Abstract
The Chinese space program has for decades been a source of immense pride in China. The program is an illuminating case of a state that seeks both status and promotes patriotic loyalty that the government hopes will instill political loyalty to the ruling Communist Party. The overarching goal of the Chinese space program is formulated along the lines of President Xi Jinping’s ideological framework of the China dream: “to explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream” (space white paper 2021). To understand China’s pursuit of space power, it is thus meaningful to view it as part of generally seeking (and regaining) great power status and respect within international society, which will make possible the longer-term goal of a multipolar world not dominated by the United States. However, more importantly, this pursuit is also crucial to fortify the idea of national pride and citizens’ being loyal to the nation.
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Lagerkvist, J. (2023). Loyalty to the Nation: Lunar and Martian Exploration for Lasting Greatness. In: Organized Loyalty. Politics and Development of Contemporary China. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40037-7_4
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