A rise in nationalist rhetoric using socialist core values under Xi Jinping leadership in the People’s Republic of China since 2013: a comparative study with Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist rhetoric in wartime 1930-40’s speeches.

This thesis aims to gain a broader understanding of Xi Jinping’s nationalist narrative since the start of his rule as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader by drawing an under researched comparison with Chiang Kai-shek. To attempt this, it executes a comparative discourse analysis of two speeches per leader on the socialist core values of individual development, ethnic unity and national prosperity occurring. The question to guide the research is as follows: To understand Xi Jinping’s current rise in nationalist rhetoric in socialist core values since he came to power in 2013, how does this compare with Chiang Kai-shek’s political language during his nationalist ruling period in the 1930-40’s? Since the academic debate focusses at CCP leadership starting from Deng Xiaoping as including nationalism into socialist narrative and policy, the Republic of China (ROC) period is often forgotten in academic research, this thesis aims to find out if the temporal space of Chinese nationalism...Show moreThis thesis aims to gain a broader understanding of Xi Jinping’s nationalist narrative since the start of his rule as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader by drawing an under researched comparison with Chiang Kai-shek. To attempt this, it executes a comparative discourse analysis of two speeches per leader on the socialist core values of individual development, ethnic unity and national prosperity occurring. The question to guide the research is as follows: To understand Xi Jinping’s current rise in nationalist rhetoric in socialist core values since he came to power in 2013, how does this compare with Chiang Kai-shek’s political language during his nationalist ruling period in the 1930-40’s? Since the academic debate focusses at CCP leadership starting from Deng Xiaoping as including nationalism into socialist narrative and policy, the Republic of China (ROC) period is often forgotten in academic research, this thesis aims to find out if the temporal space of Chinese nationalism can be broadened and the research gap can be narrowed. It concludes that similarities can be seen, and Chiang Kai-shek also used the narrative of the socialist core values by Xi Jinping in his speeches, but in his own historical context of wartime. Chiang Kai-Shek’s ‘Self’ as the Chinese people must be morally educated to be one nation and develop Chinese society, with the ‘Other’ as aggressor, whilst Xi Jinping views the ‘Self’ morally superior to the ‘Other’, however still affirming this narrative to achieve China’s full economic potential. Due to the limitations in the design of this thesis, further research on the topic must be conducted to further fill in the research gap in the context of a constantly developing society.Show less

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A rise in nationalist rhetoric using socialist core values under Xi Jinping leadership in the People’s Republic of China since 2013: a comparative study with Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist rhetoric in wartime 1930-40’s speeches.