| Based on the rich literature on "Chineseness," "public sphere," and "nationalism," the researcher developed the concept of "Chinese cyber-nationalism" and examined the theoretical significance and practical implications of this new phenomenon on China's online sphere. Multiple methods, including a two-wave national online survey, a two-month online content analysis of four popular Chinese online forums, and dozens of in-depth telephone interviews with Chinese foreign policy decision makers, online opinion leaders, and common online forum discussants, were conducted to explore the evolution, characteristics, and implications of Chinese cyber nationalism. According to this research, Chinese cyber nationalism is a non-government sponsored ideology or movement that has originated, existed, and developed on China's online sphere in the past decade (1994-2005). It is a natural extension from China's century-long nationalism movement, but it is different from the CCP's official version of patriotism. Taking advantages of the online technology, Chinese cyber nationalism has been utilizing the Internet as a communication center, organizational platform, and execution channel to promote the nationalistic causes among Chinese nationalists around the world. It aims primarily on those international issues involving China and strives to retain China's historical position as a respectable power in Asia and in the world. The combination of China's distinctive culture and tradition, online technology's reach and power, and nationalism's broad appeal made it a powerful and unpredictable factor in China's policy decision-making process. In brief, if the medium is the message, as claimed by Marshall McLuhan, then the message that has been brought about to China by the cyber medium might have been the Chinese cyber nationalism. |
