National Language Promotion under Authoritarianism

• In Event: Chinese Politics Mini-Conference: Consolidating State Power

Abstract

Existing literature on multiethnic, multilingual societies emphasizes that a common national language is critical for enhancing shared identity and cohesion across groups. Beyond the widely applicable nation-building purpose, I argue that national language promotion carries unique significance for authoritarian regimes, as it may serve to bolster regime support. Drawing on large-scale surveys, original interviews, and online community discussions, I examine this argument in authoritarian China, which has achieved a dramatic success in disseminating a common language called “Putonghua” in recent decades. By leveraging cross-cohort and cross-locality variation in the exposure to Putonghua as a medium of instruction following a major language reform in 2001, I find that greater exposure to Putonghua at school results in heightened regime support. Individual-level evidence suggests two possible mechanisms: first, greater access to education and job opportunities essential for material well-being, and second, increased consumption of television news, an important vessel for state propaganda. Despite some backlash against the risk of stifling diversity, the regime has managed to broaden its support base by cultivating more contented and aligned younger generations, especially among Han dialect speakers compared to ethnic minorities. This study has implications for the sources of authoritarian support, and politics of language and identity.

Author

• Jieun Kim, NYU Shanghai