Rise of Nationalism - Essay Example

The Rise of Nationalism The rise of nationalism has been linked to colonization and imperialism. It emerged as a reaction to the dominance of one race over the other. This has been demonstrated in the manner by which nations struggled to be free from foreign influence and intervention. This is not surprising because nationalism highlights how the interests and values of a nation take precedence over all other interests and values (Sabanadze, 22). This was reflected in China’s transition from a dynastic empire to the Republic of China.

The rise of nationalism in China has been linked to one of the countries most important political figures, Sun Yat-sen. Through his works – from his writings, lectures to his activities – Sun Yat-sen was able to introduce doctrines that would form the foundation of Chinese nationalism. They served as the cause of the political movement that brought people together and the soul that lent fervor and passion to the demands for change.Nationalism played a role in China’s attempts to effectively pursue self-determination.

The Qing dynasty was widely perceived as a bastard government having been established with the aid of Japan and existed with Japanese control. Even the Soviet Republic was threatening to control outer Mongolia (Linebarger, 2). The intellectual elite led by Sun Yat-sen rallied the people and effectively mobilized them in a struggle against the regime. The objective is to rid the country of foreign control by rising against the empire. Nationalism became the ideology that unified the people towards achieving this goal (Linebarger, 61).

In 1911, the Qin dynasty was defeated and a nationalist government was finally established.Works CitedLinebarger, Paul Myron Anthony. The Political Doctrines of Sun Yat-sen: An Exposition of the San Min Chu I. Project Gutenberg. Digital File.Sabanadze, Natalie. Globalization and Nationalism: The Cases of Georgia and Basque Country. Budapest: Central European University Press, 2010. Print.