Interaction rituals in a crisis: The case of COVID-19 in China

Abstract

In times of crisis, activating public collective consciousness is crucial. Applying national identity aids in building this consciousness, enhancing social identity, fostering social solidarity, and motivating a joint “state-society” response. Traditional top-down approaches to national identity, relying on symbols and rituals rooted in collective memory, may falter during crises due to formalism. Micro-social interactions, aligned with governance, construct relevant meanings through interaction rituals. Participation in these rituals energizes individuals, shaping national identity and fostering social unity. However, limited research explores this bottom-up approach. Integrating interaction ritual chain theory, this study examines shaping national identity from the bottom up. It concludes that symbolic meanings from governance behavior, social norms, and group identity through interaction rituals yield national symbols, consensus order, and emotional responses. Ultimately, interaction rituals mobilize emotions and reconstruct social order. This study's conclusion holds reference value for enhancing the government's meaning making and enriching interaction ritual chain theory.