China's Digital Nationalism

Schneider's book develops a powerful critique of current literatures on nationalism, cyber politics, and China studies, while providing a thought-provoking interpretation of digital nationalism in China as a technological, social, economic, and political phenomenon.Despite the theoretical and conceptual complexity, the book is written in a highly accessible fashion. Students of China studies, digital media, identity politics, and authoritarian politics should certainly read it. Readers with or without background knowledge about China, nationalism, or digital media but are interested in these topics will enjoy it. * Rongbin Han, University of Georgia *
Rising nationalism in contemporary China has attracted a lot of scholarly and media attention in recent decades. As China rapidly enters the digital age, and as the number of its internet users increases exponentially, this book contributes to the growing literature on Chinese nationalism by focusing on the complicated interactions between nationalism developed and transformed by various political and social actors in digital spheres and nationalism on the ground. In some ways, this book builds on the already familiar thesis of nations as imagined communities, but through the new lens of digital networks enabled by the internet and information technologies. Its in-depth analysis provides a valuable perspective on the fascinating metamorphosis of Chinese nationalism in the digital age and its broad implications for communication governance under authoritarianism. * C. Chen, University at Albany, SUNY, CHOICE *