Religion, Secularism, and Love as a Political Discourse in Modern China

What is the meaning of love in modern Chinese politics? Why has ai . (love) been a crucial political discourse for secular nationalism for generations of political leaders as a powerful instrument to the present day? This book offers the first systematic examination of the ways in which the notion of love has been introduced, adapted, and engineered as a political discourse for the building and rebuilding of a secular modern nation, all the while appropriating Confucianism, Christianity, popular religion, ghost stories, political religion, and their religious affects. The insights of this exploration expand not only the discussion of the role of emotions in the project of Chinese modernity, but also the study of affective governance and religious nationalisms around the world today.Finalist for the 2026 American Academy of Religion Book Awards – Best Work in the Study of Practices, Communities, or Lived Contexts