The Construction and Performance of Citizenship in Contemporary China

Abstract

Citizenship education has been an explicit part of the universal education system in contemporary China. Using data from an original nationwide survey conducted in 2018, we test the hypothesis that the longer the intensity of exposure to citizenship education, the more citizens are influenced by a state-led conception of citizenship characterized by obedience and loyalty to the state. We find mixed results in that citizenship education is effective at lower educational levels, but at higher levels it is not only ineffective, but fosters (or at minimum, does not deter) a more active conception and performance of citizenship.