However, there is another significant quiver to Xi Jinping’s bow in dealing with political and social unrest around him: his ability to call on the deep reserves of Chinese nationalism to reconsolidate his political position by harnessing populist opinion to his cause. Indeed, nationalism is becoming a core pillar of both the party’s and Xi’s personal political legitimacy and has become a central focus of the party’s vast propaganda apparatus. Nationalism therefore becomes a dangerous additive to the
