Come Together: Unpacking the Elective Affinity Between Media Use and Nationalism in China

• In Event: 20220 - Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Section on Communication, Information Technology, and Media Sociology Roundtable VI: East and South Asia

Abstract

Since the turn of the century, nationalism in China has risen significantly, prompting growing academic interest in its relationship with media use. Drawing on Max Weber’s concept of elective affinity and Anderson’s notion of nationalism as an "imagined community," this study investigates the complex interplay between media use and nationalism in the Chinese context. Using repeated cross-sectional survey data from 2014 to 2022, we examine how exposure to and credibility of Chinese mainstream and overseas media influence two dimensions of nationalism: exclusionary nationalism and patriotic nationalism. Our findings reveal that Chinese mainstream media use is positively correlated with both forms of nationalism, with media credibility amplifying this effect, exhibiting elective affinity. Patriotic nationalism shows a stronger affinity with Chinese media, reflecting its broader social influence. In contrast, overseas media use negatively correlates with nationalist ideologies, albeit with weaker effects. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered these dynamics, with heightened propaganda campaigns and an unsettling social environment reinforcing the link between Chinese media use and nationalism, while overseas media exposure was further associated with low-level nationalist sentiments at the beginning of the pandemic. We argue that the differences in information credibility between domestic and international sources in the early stages of the pandemic may help explain these shifts. These shifts highlight the profound impact of social and international crises on media-nationalism relationships. This study underscores the need for longitudinal and nuanced approaches to capture the evolving interplay between media use and nationalism in a rapidly changing world.

Authors

• Qiang TAN, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Jaemin Lee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Xiaoqian Yue, The Chinese University of Hong Kong