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Cultural Policy, Chinese National Identity and Globalisation

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Global Media and National Policies

Part of the book series: Palgrave Global Media Policy and Business ((GMPB))

Abstract

Cultural industries have made a significant contribution to economic development in modern China. In addition, as an extension of the power of ‘culture’, cultural industries are also regarded as a domain closely related to social cohesion and stability. In China, the state authorities still exercise strict control over the cultural industries, from publishing to music and movie businesses. However, against the backdrop of globalisation, market forces have also been able to intervene in the development of these cultural industries. The interplay between political forces and market forces has thus intensively influenced the content and products of these cultural industries, which in turn play a crucial role in shaping the national identity. By using the online game industry as a case study, this chapter addresses the enduring issue of national identities through the cultural policies in a rapidly developing sector. We will discuss why and how top-down cultural policies and capitalist forces in a globalising market come together to shape the Chinese national identity.

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© 2016 Vicky Ho and Anthony Fung

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Ho, V., Fung, A. (2016). Cultural Policy, Chinese National Identity and Globalisation. In: Flew, T., Iosifidis, P., Steemers, J. (eds) Global Media and National Policies. Palgrave Global Media Policy and Business. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137493958_7

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