Chinese Alt-History Web Novels and the Rise of Popular Authoritarianism
A new book by University of Georgia professor Rongbin Han, titled 'Make China Great Again,' analyzes the phenomenon of Chinese online alternative history fiction. These novels, predominantly written by men for male audiences, feature protagonists traveling back in time to rewrite China's past using modern technology and political ideologies. Han examined 238 popular titles from a major web novel platform, finding that these stories often focus on saving the Ming Dynasty or preventing historical humiliations. The analysis suggests that this genre serves to legitimize the Chinese Communist Party and reinforce authoritarian politics by echoing nationalist propaganda themes. Despite being fictional entertainment, these narratives adapt to censorship pressures and reflect a collective desire to glorify China's history. The books are part of a massive, profitable industry in China, with many adaptations into movies and TV series. Han argues that while most science fiction imagines the future, these works are hyper-fixated on correcting past mistakes, effectively functioning as a cultural mechanism that aligns ordinary citizens with state-sanctioned nationalist narratives.
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Chinese Alt-History Web Novels and the Rise of Popular Authoritarianism
A new book by University of Georgia professor Rongbin Han, titled 'Make China Great Again,' analyzes the phenomenon of Chinese online alternative history fiction. These novels, predominantly written by men for male audiences, feature protagonists traveling back in time to rewrite China's past using modern technology and political ideologies. Han examined 238 popular titles from a major web novel platform, finding that these stories often focus on saving the Ming Dynasty or preventing historical humiliations. The analysis suggests that this genre serves to legitimize the Chinese Communist Party and reinforce authoritarian politics by echoing nationalist propaganda themes. Despite being fictional entertainment, these narratives adapt to censorship pressures and reflect a collective desire to glorify China's history. The books are part of a massive, profitable industry in China, with many adaptations into movies and TV series. Han argues that while most science fiction imagines the future, these works are hyper-fixated on correcting past mistakes, effectively functioning as a cultural mechanism that aligns ordinary citizens with state-sanctioned nationalist narratives.
WIRED