Social Construction of National Reality: Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong

Abstract

The ‘ Social Construction of National Reality: Taiwan, Tibet, and Hong Kong ’ is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the complex relationships between national identity, power, and representation. Authors Fu-Lai Yu and Diana Kwan provide a nuanced analysis of how di ff erent actors, both within and outside of the territories in question, shape and contest how Taiwan, Tibet, and Hong Kong are perceived and understood. The authors draw upon a range of sources, including interviews, media analysis, and political discourse, to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between di ff erent discursive frameworks and political realities. The authors leverages Peter Berger ’ s theory on the social construction of reality to explore the formation of national identity and the nation-building process and delve into how socialization through everyday life experiences cultivates ingroup and outgroup distinctions, separating nationals and non-nationals. By utilizing this theory, the authors aim to provide insight into the inter-national con fl icts, including the Taiwan Strait Crisis, Tibetan unrest, and the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement, that have arisen due to divergent national consciousnesses. At its core, this book critically examines how everyday experiences of power and representation are intertwined. Tony Fu-Lai Yu and Diana S. Kwan examine the construction of national identity through the lens of Thomas Luckmann and Peter Berger ’ s (1967) ‘ Social Construction Theory. ’ Yu and Kwan provide vivid insights into the nature of historical, ideological as well as political bases of the construction of national identities through an intersubjectivist approach, which is very compelling. They trace the historical origin of national identity in Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, including among the people of mainland China and analyze the historical as well as contemporary reasons that contribute to the construction of the national identity. The authors Yu and Kwan argue that national identities are constructed through the actions of individuals and institutions that have the power to shape