omparative Study on the Path of Building National Communities in China and European Countries from the Perspective of Cultural Identity

In the process of globalization and modernization, the construction of ethnic communities has become a coreissue in the governance of multi-ethnic states. This paper, based on cultural identity theory, constructs an analyticalframework of "historical memory, value consensus, and symbolic representation" to conduct a comparative study of thepaths taken by China and typical European multi-ethnic states in building ethnic communities. The research finds thatChina has formed a path of cultural identity construction with "plural unity" at its core, characterized by state-ledefforts through historical narrative integration, shaping of core values, and innovation in symbolic systems, achievingdeep integration of ethnic and national identities. European countries, on the other hand, exhibit characteristics of"citizen integration and plural co-governance," relying on equal cultural rights within institutional frameworks andinteractions in the public sphere, but face tensions between cultural pluralism and identity politics. The differences inhistorical foundations, driving mechanisms, and practical strategies between these two paths essentially reflect theinteractive logic between civilizational traditions and modernity aspirations. The study proposes that the constructionof ethnic communities in multi-ethnic states should balance cultural diversity and unity, building dynamic consensus inhistorical inheritance, providing new analytical perspectives for contemporary state governance.