No 13, Issue 1       

CHINA DREAM: THE STORY OF A CONCEPT

İlhan ARAS  | Yasemin ERGÜL

Pages: 20-36

Abstract

The “China Dream (中国梦 / Zhōngguó Mèng)” discourse, which was first articulated by Xi after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November 2012, was regarded as his most important political narrative. The study examines the historical origins of the “China Dream”, its interpretation in literature, and its relationship with the Century of Humiliation, Xi’s role in shaping it, its similarities and differences with the “American Dream”, to which it is often compared. It seeks to answer the question, “What are the most important issues in the development of the concept of the ‘China Dream’?”. As a result, the study argues that two factors have significantly influenced the emergence and development of the “China Dream” concept: i) Xi’s strong leadership, and ii) its connection to the Century of Humiliation.

Keywords: China Dream, Chinese Dream, Xi Jinping, Century of Humiliation, Zhōngguó Mèng

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