"Making China Great Again" One Web-Novel At A Time

Chinese internet literature, specifically the "Make China Great Again" genre, serves as a unique cultural barometer for understanding national identity and the "Chinese Dream." These web novels, often featuring protagonists who travel back in time to rectify historical crises, reflect a collective desire to overcome past humiliations and secure China’s global resurgence. Rongbin Han, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia, highlights how these stories function as a form of negotiated ideology, where the state co-opts popular nationalist sentiment rather than imposing top-down propaganda. By allowing citizens to participate in constructing a vision of an ideal China, the regime fosters a form of cultural hegemony that strengthens domestic legitimacy. These narratives, which frequently emphasize industrialization and economic reform, provide critical insights into how China envisions its future role as a global power.