Collective Identity, Symbolic Mobilization, and Student Protest in Nanjing, China, 1988-1989

Recent social movement theory explores the interaction of collective identity and collective action. This issue is pursued here in an examination of student protest in Nanjing, China. Because social movement activity in China is discontinuous, conjunctural, and public, mobilization relies heavily on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative politics 1994-07, Vol.26 (4), p.395-413
Main Author: Crane, George T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
China
China, People's Republic of
Chinese culture
Collective action
Democracy
Demonstrations & protests
Group identity
History (1988-89)
Identity
Labor protests
Mobilization
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Political movements
POLITICAL PROTEST
Political protests
Political science
Protest (students)
Protest movements
Social demonstrations
Social movements
STUDENT MOVEMENTS
Students
Symbolism
SYMBOLOGY
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Summary:Recent social movement theory explores the interaction of collective identity and collective action. This issue is pursued here in an examination of student protest in Nanjing, China. Because social movement activity in China is discontinuous, conjunctural, and public, mobilization relies heavily on symbolic communication and action. Constructing a collective identity that can sustain a movement thus hinges on the creation and manipulation of evocative symbols. The problems and opportunities of symbolically enacting collective identity are discussed in regard to the 1988 anti-African protests and the 1989 democracy movement in Nanjing.
ISSN:0010-4159
2151-6227
DOI:10.2307/422023