Drawing Outside the Lines
I went for a walk today and began to look at the community that I live in. This country and its people are made up of hundreds of different that are bound together in a unified way. Benedict Anderson in his book, Imagined Communities, calls all nations imagined. “It is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion…”[1] He goes on to say that we have imagined
the lines on the map and created nations from our desire to unite. The shared experiences uniting these communities are events that are long remembered and spoken about. “Chinese nationalism is in many ways specific, because it is based on what is perceived as past humiliation, it has shown since the beginning of the modern era, which is to say since the Opium War of 1840, a profound feeling of insecurity.”[2] This as well as subsequent conflicts with foreign countries has ostracized the already isolationist country rallying them against outsiders.
Anderson writes about empires declining “destroying the legitimacy of divinely ordained, hierarchical dynastic realm[s].[3] This can also be seen in China as well with the final collapse in 1912. The rallying cry of revolutionaries called for equality and liberty from oppression. These slogans and speeches were subsequently printed and distributed so all could know and ag
ree. The communist party won following World War 2, recognized the need for unity and solidarity and simplified a very complicated language. This opened the door for language to be not only for scholars but also for the common people. Standardized language both spoken and written was instituted so the common farmer and the city dweller could speak and read the same material. [4] When history is retold and rewritten within a newly formed nation, heroes emerge promoting patriotic living.“Printed words washed away the former almost at once, so that, if recalled at all, it appeared an inconsequential anomaly”[5]
The “Question is […]why nationalism has inspired so many people to lay down their lives in its wars and revolutions.”[6]Anderson says, “I believe that the beginnings of an answer lie in the cultural roots of nationalism.”[7] From the beginning of the current political climate of this country, speeches, books, slogans, and various propaganda pieces have flooded in to unite the country. These rallying cries brou
ght people together against a common foe: be it the rich and privileged, a foreign nation that embarrassed them in the past, a province that wants to secede, or the Japanese and the atrocities during WW2. Often times the frustrations of this country’s citizens are redirected against a common adversary. For a country that is founded on revolution there is a regular need to focus anger on others. Today social media, newspapers, automated text messages, and local leaders are used to encourage people against the ever changing scapegoat. Like or not, it works. The pressure is vented! People are relieved to have a country that stands up against those trying to infringe on them, and as they come together, community is built and individual issues are forgotten for the day. The imagined communities are happy for another day.
Whether it is a collective struggle or a sacred texts, Anderson says people are drawn together for harmony and cooperation. [8] The east and west both have sacred texts that shaped the countries and communities. Though Confucianism is not an official religion, it does have sacred texts that have influenced the ancient and modern Chinese. Outsiders to any community will struggle to understand the cultural idiosyncrasies that exist. Churches have called themselves communities for generations. If Anderson is right and communities (even church) are simply imagined with self imposed lines separating them, then ethnicity only plays into defined communities when we want it to. Even within the Christian church, there are messages we promote; like unity in Christ and with one another. We can also be united by demonizing communities, church tribes, or people in an attempt to rally and strengthen our own.
The Chinese word “propaganda” has both a good and bad meaning. Patriotic songs, language, posters, advertisements if we are honest are all propaganda; good and bad. Communities that are carefully crafting a message to unite and stay focused, use propaganda. Eric Fromm said, “What is so deceptive about the state of mind of the members of a society is the ‘consensual validation’ of their concepts. It is naively assumed that the fact that the majority of people share certain ideas or feelings proves the validity of these ideas and feelings. Nothing is further from the truth. ”[9] Consensual validation of concepts found in propaganda doesn’t prove its validity. “People are supposed to be loyal to the group to which they belong, and, in exchange, the group will defend their interests.”[10] When the communities control media, printed material and internet, the message that is conveyed each day, day after day is one that promotes the community that forms it. Nationalism comes as a result of daily digesting the carefully crafted influences of your community, whether reading China Daily or the London Tribune.
Leaders – be it of countries, businesses, or churches – are conveying messages that build up or tear down, guide or manipulate, shape or destroy the communities they are responsible for. The imagined communities that we participate in have self imposed barriers that divide as well as unite. Whether it is our physical neighbors, Christian family, or countries, we need to let Christ transcend the obstacles for us to create a true community.
[1] Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections of the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. (New York :Verso, 2006) 6
[2] http://journals.openedition.org/chinaperspectives/2793 accessed January 18. 2018
[3] Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections of the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. (New York :Verso, 2006) 7
[4] Ibid, 197
[5] Ibid, 35
[6] Wilson, George M. “Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism.” American Historical Review 90 (1985): 903.
[7] Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections of the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. (New York :Verso, 2006) 6
[8] Ibid, 13-36
[9] Elliott, Anthony. Contemporary Social Theory – Second Edition An Introduction. (Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014), 69
[10] “Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, Understanding Different Countries,” accessed November 16, 2017. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm
About the Author
Greg
Greg has a wife and 3 children. He has lived and work in Asia for over 12 years. He is currently the Asia Director of Imanna Laboratories, which tests and inspects marine products seeking US Coast Guard certification. His company Is also involved in teaching and leadership development.12 responses to “Drawing Outside the Lines”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Greg,
Phenomenal closing, “Whether it is our physical neighbors, Christian family, or countries, we need to let Christ transcend the obstacles for us to create a true community.”
I would add, ONLY God can do that!
(Oops, I hit the post button before finishing).
One word you put in your closing was we need to “let” Christ do this for us. I wholeheartedly agree Greg.
Well written and thank you for speaking from your context in China. I love hearing about where you live.
I had to laugh at this Jaye, my son is a high school senior and I was talking about my blog. I told him that I wanted to end it with a question and he said to take my question and make it a statement…and it worked better. It is good to have smart children.
Greg,
Great emphasis on the common enemy. Of course my sinful mind went immediately to think of the groups I lead. What common enemy or common struggle can I capitalize on to better unite the team together.
It’s a leadership tactic!
Every good leader needs a straw man to knock down. Every group likes to rally around a faceless enemy. (I vote aliens). Seriously this is a struggle that all leaders face as we move forward united for a common goal. How do we do this without demonizing a group for the unity to exist.
Greg,
Excellent post, particularly as it is so clearly set in your cultural context of China. Very interesting to me how you see the continued machine of the Chinese government utilizing the tactics discussed in Anderson to foster this sense of national identity against a common enemy; one that keeps changing, according to your post. I wonder if you see similar types of ‘propaganda’ utilization in other, Western nations. We like to think that China and other nations with that style of leadership manipulate her people in a way that Western nations do not. Do you think this is true? From an outside perspective what do you see as the maybe more subtle ways Western nations utilize similar tactics?
Dan you know that every countries has its own subtle (or not) version of a propaganda machines. We see it so easy in politics as we set up faceless enemies that the common people can be protected from. We have seen this in every society throughout history. The glorification of our own society or way of thinking in opposition to those that we disagree with. Setting up races, classes, division with Christianity to show some are better than others.
After church today we went with friends across the border to a Chinese buffet restaurant (not my choice), and above our table was a flat screen TV with Fox News playing silently. So there you have it in one image: international travel, merging of cultures, and propaganda, all in one go. 😉 Seriously, though, I wondered about how to define propaganda. Is it not media used in response to fear of the other?
Mark, finding good Chinese food always helps digest fox news :-). I think propaganda is one group trying to convince another of their importance and bringing them over to their side. Many times this is subtle and seemingly innocent but extremely effective over many years. Be it in the east, west, right or left.
Greg,
Although you live a country with overt propaganda, does it seem to you to vary much in the US as opposed to China. I see the media as just another arm of the political parties, whether right or left, don’t you think?
Jason, you also live in a country with overt propaganda. So if propaganda is not always bad, then we need to see even patriotic songs, pledge of allegiance and commercials for love of country as propaganda as well. I do see the negative aspect of propaganda in political races and agenda being promoted. Whether good or bad, it is good to recognize what is influences us and the people we lead.
Greg, thanks for your insight into China and nationalism from your perspective. Could you name a couple ways you have seen nationalism in your neighborhood or in your organization? I am particularly curious if you have examples from your last paragraph on leadership.