TY - JOUR
T1 - Divergence and diversity : changing Chinese perceptions of north Korea under Kim Jong-un
AU - CHAN, Che Po
AU - BRIDGES, Brian
PY - 2018/1/2
Y1 - 2018/1/2
N2 - A widely-held perception is that the image of North Korea among most Chinese people has changed from that of a socialist comrade and ‘little brother’ to an idiosyncratic, trouble-making neighbor. This research questions the homogeneity of Chinese people’s viewpoints towards North Korea. Concepts of state and popular nationalism are used to examine differences and similarities between the Chinese state and its people in their perceptions and sentiments towards North Korea, mainly focusing on the period of succession from Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un. Examining online discussions representing Chinese popular nationalism demonstrated that Chinese netizens’ political viewpoints are diversified along the ideological spectrum of left and right and that only the ‘moderate left’ netizens hold an image of North Korea which is close to that of their political authorities.
AB - A widely-held perception is that the image of North Korea among most Chinese people has changed from that of a socialist comrade and ‘little brother’ to an idiosyncratic, trouble-making neighbor. This research questions the homogeneity of Chinese people’s viewpoints towards North Korea. Concepts of state and popular nationalism are used to examine differences and similarities between the Chinese state and its people in their perceptions and sentiments towards North Korea, mainly focusing on the period of succession from Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un. Examining online discussions representing Chinese popular nationalism demonstrated that Chinese netizens’ political viewpoints are diversified along the ideological spectrum of left and right and that only the ‘moderate left’ netizens hold an image of North Korea which is close to that of their political authorities.
UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/6668
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028574226&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10670564.2017.1363013
DO - 10.1080/10670564.2017.1363013
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
VL - 27
SP - 16
EP - 31
JO - Journal of Contermporary China
JF - Journal of Contermporary China
SN - 1067-0564
IS - 109
ER -