Introduction

Abstract

It might seem strange to start a book by immediately questioning the adequacy of its title. However, the reference in the title of this book to the “role” of nationalism in Chinese thinking on democracy and rights does not really tell the whole story because it does not really indicate just how integral nationalism has been to Chinese perceptions of democracy and rights. In truth, almost every time there is a debate in China about democracy and rights, it is closely tied to the national question and more specifically to the question of how to make China strong. This is often in reaction to a deemed threat from foreign imperialism. During the previous two centuries, this imperialism took a military form. More recently, it has taken what is perceived to be a cultural form. This book examines the different historical circumstances in which Chinese thinking about democracy and rights has been shaped by a foreign threat, spanning four successive periods — the late Qing, the Republic, Mao’s China and post-Mao China.