Debating National Identity Through the China Model: An Ideological Spectrum Analysis

One of the key topics today is China’s rise and its impact on the global order, as exemplified by the discussion surrounding the “China model.” This article examines the discourse on the “China model” from a national identity perspective rather than a political economy approach. From this viewpoint, the “China model” can be understood as a continuation of the historical debate between “Sinification” and “Westernization,” reflecting China’s identity concerns during its modernization process. At the same time, it serves as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s legitimation efforts. Thus, discussions about the China model provide a valuable lens for exploring national identity debates within China. This study emphasizes the role of ideology in shaping these debates and introduces a framework based on three ideological categories: Liberal, Left-wing, and Conservative. It examines the divergences among intellectuals and how official discourse utilizes the discussion by analyzing intellectual and official discourses. The findings indicate that official discourse has increasingly adopted left-wing rhetoric while reinforcing a more conservative ontological stance. In conclusion, this article analyses intellectual and official discourse in China, offering more profound insights into the nation’s evolving self-identity and its vision of its role in the world.