Chinese Nation-Building as, Instead of, and Before Globalization

Abstract

In this era of �globalization�, nation-building has become a relatively neglected topic. In this essay, I use Thomas Hylland Eriksen�s textbook, Globalization, as a framework for exploring nation-building in China. I take his eight-concept chapter outline�disembedding, acceleration, standardization, interconnectedness, movement, mixing, vulnerability, and re-embedding�and apply it to dynamics of nation-building in China. In so doing, I tease out actual and potential relationships among the processes evident in Chinese nationbuilding and globalization. In addition, I explore some of the relationships, productivities and pitfalls of �globalization� and �nation-building� as concepts.