Nationalism and Racism

Research Focus

Racism is commonly theorized from the Western perspective but is also prevalent in non-Western contexts. The resurgence of nationalism and its interplay with racism, often salient in the populist politics that espouse such ideologies to construct the notion of “the people,” can be observed not only in Western liberal democracies but also in many other places with different political systems and cultures. This has complicated how many countries approach various social, political, and economic challenges including democratic backsliding, immigration and refugee crises, economic inequality, and even foreign policy decisions in dynamic international relations.

The National and Racism research track explores how nationalism and racism intertwine to create various forms of suppression and intolerance across the Asia-Pacific region. It examines unique cases of racism in the region, analyzing their defining features and underlying patterns. The research seeks to uncover how race is conceptualized by/among different actors, including the ruling elite, the media, and the public in various Asian countries, and how these conceptualizations may resemble or differ from racism in other parts of the world. It thereby interrogates how the concept of racism is applied to the region, and what other elements — religion, socioeconomic status, gender, historical memory, and more — factor into racism.

This research is part of the Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL).

Projects in this research track include:

Deconstructing Racism “Denial” in Asia

Conducting a critical discourse analysis of state party reports submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) by 16 Northeast, Southeast, and South Asian countries, this study poses the following questions: How did Asian state parties of the CERD understand and talk about race and racial discrimination? What are the contextual and ideological foundations shaping the justifications and interpretations presented in their reports? We focus specifically on different forms of racism “denial” — literal, interpretive, and ideological — prevalent among the collected reports.

The “Asian” discourse of denial stems from fundamental conceptions of historical identity and dominant social, political, and religious values that shape the national understanding of race and racism. Some state parties use nationalist ideologies to emphasize racial harmony and equality as inherent, thus negating the need for explicit anti-racist measures. By framing racism as antithetical to their ideological doctrines, its existence is further obscured.

Similarly, religious ideologies promote racial tolerance and suggest immunity to racial discrimination, subjugating the experiences of racial and religious minorities. Postcolonial nationalism reframes discussions on racism within anti-colonial struggles, positioning racial discrimination as a colonial legacy. This absolves states from addressing ongoing racial inequalities, preserving a narrative of national unity at the expense of marginalized groups. Addressing these forms of denial is crucial for promoting critical dialogue on race and racism in Asia and dismantling systems of oppression.

Elite Articulation of "Multiculturalism"

In the increasingly globalized world, Asian countries have undergone significant societal and population changes driven by factors such as demographic crises, immigration, and labor force mobility. Concurrently, issues of inclusion and exclusion, particularly concerning minority and marginalized communities, have gained prominence. This study seeks to investigate the discursive (re)construction and justification of “the people,” those deemed legitimate and authentic members of the nation, and “others,” especially racialized individuals, in policy and legislative debates surrounding the establishment of “multicultural” societies in four countries: Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Despite differing demographic realities and needs, immigration and citizenship laws, colonial and postcolonial legacies, and the influence of ethnic nationalism and populist politics, these countries embrace “multiculturalism” as both a normative principle and political rhetoric. Yet, they face mounting concerns related to discrimination, disenfranchisement, xenophobia, and various other forms of intolerance towards marginalized minority communities. Employing a computer-assisted textual analysis, this research analyzes parliamentary deliberations and policy documents to understand how national leaders and legislators in these different countries imagine and negotiate the composition of a “multicultural” society.

Publications and Related News

South Korea’s Presidential Candidates Face Balancing Act Amid Rising Anti-China Sentiment
The Guardian, March 2022

South Koreans Are Rethinking What China Means to Their Nation
APARC website, February 2022

The Rise of Anti-Chinese Sentiments in South Korea: Political and Security Implications
APARC website, October 2021