“Harmony” and “Integration”: On the Logical Relationship between Ethnic Unity and Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation

Chen Kun, Tang Jiajun

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1674-9391.2023.03.004

Abstract：

Theoretically， ethnic unity and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation are seen as two important concepts with both boundaries and profound internal logical connections. This study suggests there are some differences between them in concept or value principles. In Chinas national discourse system and practical ethnic affairs， the value concept of “ethnic unity” is defined as “harmony” while the value concept of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation can be summarized as “integration”. The “harmony” of ethnic unity refers to a harmonious coexistence of heterogeneous factors， emphasizing a pursuit of friendly and harmonious ethnic relations based on respect for diversity. On the other hand， “integration” of building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation attempts to highlight the unification of heterogeneous factors and emphasize a close connection of all parts of the community of the Chinese nation so that they blend and become an inseparable whole.

Irrespective of the perspective of concept or value， there is a difference between ethnic unity and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. However， as the core of the CPCs ethnic policy， they have a profound internal logical relationship： First of all， from the perspective of constitutive elements， the core components of promoting ethnic unity and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation have internal consistency， while identity is an important element of both ethnic unity and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Secondly， from the perspective of a development level， forging of a sense of community for the Chinese nation is the product of ethnic unity with the concept of “harmony” when it reaches a certain stage and can be regarded as the advanced phase of ethnic unity. Thirdly， from the perspective of unity structure， ethnic unity and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation correspond to different levels of the unity system. As a higher level of unity， building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation exercises a greater constraint and stronger influence on ethnic unity. At the level of the Chinese nation， the great unity of the nation is to safeguard national unity and solidarity， which is the supreme core interests of the Chinese nation; In terms of ethnic unity ， it means that Chinas 56 ethnic groups should live in harmony， work together and develop in harmony. The two kinds of unity belong to a basic vertical hierarchical relationship.

The emphasis on the Chinese nation and on a sense of community for the Chinese nation since the 18th CPC National Congress does not negate ethnic unity as the basic value orientation in previous ethnic work. On the contrary， the unity of the two reflects a deepening of the CPCs understanding of ethnic issues in the new era together with a reflection of its ethnic policies. In Chinese culture， “harmony” and “integration” often go hand in hand. Throughout the CPC Central Committees expression of forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation， it is often seen as inseparable from ethnic unity， like a pair of twins. Therefore， ethnic work in the new era should be guided by “integration” and adhere to the main line and direction of unity; on the basis of “harmony”， a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be forged while pursuing ethnic unity.

Key Words：

ethnic unity；forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation; ethnic policies