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Until the 19th century, Confucian China was arguably the most important economic and political power in East and Southeast Asia. The fall of the Confucian empire in the early 20th century paved the way for the development of Chinese nationalism which was seen as the only means by which the country could regain its importance as a regional and global power. The changing position of contemporary China in the world and the revaluation of Confucianism combined with nationalist and patriotic tendencies, brings into question the role that historical consciousness plays in China's national and international identity. This important collection discusses the history of Chinese nationalism and the issue of traditionalism vs. modernity in Chinese political thinking, and investigates the geopolitical impact of China's rise in its immediately adjacent regions, as well as its functioning in organizations of global governance. It thus assesses China's contemporary national and international identity against the background of its Confucian and nationalist history.
