The role of the enemy in Nationalism: understanding the "other" in Xi Jinping's China

How and why would a state craft the notion of an enemy to
then narrate back to the domestic population? My PhD
explores 'strategic enemization', seeking to understand the
deliberate governmental creation of an 'enemy' (peoples,
groups, and ideas) for the state's own gain. The focal case
study for this project investigates the Chinese Communist
Party's construction of domestic 'enemies' under Xi Jinping.
The theory makes and will test four assumptions as to why
a government forms an enemy threat in political rhetoric.
These are as follows: (1) for unification purpose, (2) to
bolster legitimisation, (3) for deflection when the state is
blamed for something and (4) to increase the nation's
overall status.

Understanding why leaders would seek to manufacture or
develop the narrative of an enemy requires a thorough
understanding of what an enemy is, what it can
accomplish, and why it is strategically serviceable. The
issue of 'enemy' is frequently mentioned in political
science works but rarely interrogated on its own standing.
As such, this PhD aims to answer the following RQs:

(1) How has the Party revamped and internalised the
'enemy' discourse in recent decades? What does the Party
mean when using terms such as 'friends', 'partners',
'enemies' today?

(2) Compared to the Maoist and Jiangist period, how does
Xi's regime choose its strategic enemies?

(3) Is this enemization mechanism, if it exists, stronger
during Chinese domestic or foreign policy flareups?

How and why would a state craft the notion of an enemy to
then narrate back to the domestic population? My PhD
explores 'strategic enemization' - seeking to understand
the deliberate governmental creation of an 'enemy'
(peoples, groups, and ideas) for the state's own gain. The
focal case study for this project investigates the Chinese
Communist Party's construction of domestic 'enemies'
under Xi Jinping. The theory makes and will test four
assumptions as to why a government forms an enemy
threat in political rhetoric. These are as follows: (1) for
unification purpose, (2) to bolster legitimisation, (3) for
deflection when the state is blamed for something and (4)
to increase the nation's overall status.