Narrative Building in the Age of Cyber Nationalism: Comparative Analysis of China and the United States

Abstract

This paper tends to explore how national identity is contested in two global powers, China and the United State (U.S.) through the lens of cyber nationalism. Based on Walter Fisher’s narrative paradigm theory and Manuel Castells, Network Society Theory, this research analyses the way ideological narratives are contested through digital platforms where government and citizens engage in powerful acts of storytelling. Despite the differences, both states rely on the digital space to support national identity and political legitimacy in a manner that is rooted in culture and emotionally appealing. The findings of this research reveals that cyber nationalism is not a mono-dimensional phenomenon, it is formed by both the top and bottom, the actions of the state and that of individuals. This research provides a nuanced perspective on the narratives that impact our digital age as masses increasingly turn to the internet to make sense of their belongings.