The Republic of Amnesia: The Ritual of Mourning and The Politics of Grief in Modern China

Abstract: Mourning, far from being a simple personal expression of grief, functions as a deeply political practice that shapes public memory and collective identity. In contemporary China, the act of mourning is not only affected by individual emotions but is also subjected to state regulation, digital censorship, and ideological control. This paper explores the political dynamics of mourning through three case studies: the suppression of mourning for the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the state-orchestrated mourning for COVID-19 victims, and the politically charged mourning of former Premier Li Keqiang. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks from Giorgio Agamben's "bare life," Judith Butler's concept of “grievability”, and Patricia Clough's work on affective economies, this analysis probes how grief is utilised as a biopolitical tool in China's governance. The paper argues that state-controlled mourning rituals transform grief into an instrument of political legitimacy while suppressing alternative forms of remembrance. The erasure of Tiananmen victims' memory demonstrates how certain deaths are made ungrievable, serving the state's effort to enforce a single historical narrative. Conversely, the COVID-19 national mourning rituals illustrate how the state can choreograph grief to solidify national unity. Similarly, the censorship of public tributes to Li Keqiang reveals how spontaneous mourning can challenge the official narrative and become politically sensitive. The study highlights how emotions circulate within controlled digital spaces, showcasing the power struggle over what can be remembered, how grief is framed, and who is granted the privilege of mourning. Ultimately, the politics of mourning in China underscores that grief is not merely about reflecting on the past but is a battleground for shaping collective consciousness in the present.