ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the character of modern Chinese political discourse. In particular, it traces the way that China’s political discourse repeatedly refers to the idea of China as subject to hostile external and internal predators. This theme lies at the centre of modern Chinese political communication and is understood in complex patterns of symbolic terms, allusions and metaphors acting as linguistic and textualised codes. However, this communicative theme plays an important role as a means of gaining historical and political legitimacy for the ruling elite. This theme of subordination, marginalisation and exclusion has offered a useful means by which an ‘official’ story of Chinese history and destiny, in effect the ‘idea’ of China’s political identity, can be used to consolidate the ruling elite’s political legitimacy, authority and continuing power. Consequently, political behaviour has been heavily influenced by this theme. From this, it is clear that we are arguing that political identity is not an essence but a construction.1