Forming an Anti-Imperialist National Identity in Republican China: The Finnish Interpretation

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

This article focuses on Finnish national identities because they expressed the shared experiences of newly established Finnish communities, and they were crucial in constructing a new nation. It also explores created images of the Finnish and Finland, as well as community construction in Republican China, especially after Finland gained independence in 1917. Another aim is to examine those Finnish political, cultural and economic activities that supported their identity construction in China. The specific emphasis will be on analysing the largest and sometimes cross-functioning Finnish groups in China: the governmental officials and the commercial community. By using qualitative methods, namely, discourse analysis and historical analysis, this study shows how the Finnish community created alternative, sometimes imaginative and frequently anti-imperialist national identities in the new Republican China. Indeed, by signing the Treaty Principles of Reciprocity and Equal Treatment, it was agreed that Finland and China 'shall enjoy same rights, privileges, favours, immunities and exemptions which [might] be accorded to similar foreign agents in accordance with the principles of international law'. This article argues that Finnish aspirations were positively regarded by many Chinese, and they respected this quite unique national connection with Finland.
Original languageEnglish
JournalNations and Nationalism
Volume29
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)364-379
Number of pages16
ISSN1354-5078
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Nov 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

  • 6160 Other humanities
  • Asian Studies
  • Republican China
  • Anti-imperialism
  • National identities
  • Nationalism
  • post-independence Finland
  • 615 History and Archaeology

Cite this