Good person, good citizen? The discourses that Chinese youth invoke to make civic and moral meaning

Abstract

Abstract In a time of transition, China is formulating principles for moral and civic responsibility and action that will serve the new goals for an expanding world power. How do young Chinese people define the ‘good person’ and ‘good citizen’, and the qualities to which they should aspire, in this changing climate? How do these mesh with the public messages and the historical traditions from which they derive? Using discourse analysis we report data from 8th and 11th grade students in Shanghai and Nantong that reveal four discourses around civic and moral responsibilities, norms and goals. Discourse analysis enables us to identify the underlying explanatory narratives that attribute causality and consequence, position people and institutions, imply judgements and values, and prescribe acceptable or expected actions. The four discourses are (1) Obeying Rules and Laws; (2) Building and Maintaining Relationships; (3) Striving towards Moral Perfection and High ‘Quality’; and (4) Loving One’s Country and Contributing to Society.