The ‘European’ in the Boxer Movement

Abstract

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Boxer movement broke out in China. European countries were the main powers involved in the intervention and suppression of the Boxer movement. In their cooperation, European countries displayed unconscious European identity. This paper analyzes under which circumstances did Europeans use the ‘European’ instead of nationality? What does the identity ‘European’ entail? And what unites them together as ‘European’? In the newspapers of the UK, France and Italy, European usually appeared in three identities: Europeans as the victims of the Boxer movement, European powers that determined international relations and European armies that were important parts of the Allied Forces. Behind these three identities lies an implied sophistication of European civilization. Another essential element was the interest that, despite inter-state disputes, have glued Europe together through balance and gambling, with China becoming the arena of European balancing politics.