Pride and Politics: The Varied Influence of National Pride on Political Behavior in South Korea, Japan, and China

This study investigates the relationship between national pride and political participation in three East Asian countries: South Korea, Japan, and China. Utilizing data from the most recent wave of the Asia Barometer survey, the analysis reveals that national pride significantly increases conventional political participation—voting—particularly in South Korea, while its impact is less pronounced in China and Japan. Conversely, national pride exhibits a minimal or even negative association with unconventional political participation, such as protests or signing petitions, especially in Japan. The study highlights the variability of national pride's influence across different national contexts, suggesting that the unique political environments and histories of these countries shape how national pride affects civic engagement. Methodological limitations, including the reliance on survey data and the temporal disconnect between reported political actions and current national pride, are acknowledged, pointing to need for future research using longitudinal data and qualitative methods to further explore these dynamics.