On many levels, the Clubhouse case seems insignificant: comparatively small numbers, probably going to be shut down, not reflecting majority ethnonationalism&denialism trend in China.

But from a dehumanization perspective, it’s remarkable (thread) https://twitter.com/kaiserkuo/status/1358112725038202880

Re-humanization: Mainland Chinese ppl are dehumanized not just by the West but also by many in HK and Taiwan. You could say that from HK/Taiwan viewpoint, this dehumanization is totally justified given the aggression both have to endure.

But the neuropolitical point with dehumanization is not so much a moral one, i.e. the question is not one of justification but of judgment&grip on reality.

Not being able to humanize Mainlanders as ppl who have diverse pol views&who might feel shame, guilt etc. towards Xinjiang

leads to writing off all Mainland Chinese Han ppl as brute animals or soulless machines in an authoritarian system that suppresses dissent&difference. It leads to a cynical&fatalistic view of the Chinese ppl’s democratic potential — exactly what the CCP wants the world to think.

Self-dehumanization: For Mainland Chinese, not being able to hear&experience themselves debating these topics with Uyghur, Tibetan, Taiwanese, HK, diaspora leads to potential self-dehumanization regarding pol agency, which in turn results in sense of powerlessness.

That’s why the Clubhouse conversations, in all their diversity, emotional rawness, pain&authenticity are meaningful: because they counter this Mainlander dehumanization and their own self-dehumanization, opening possibility&vision for another way of being human with each other.

You could object that I shouldn’t center Han Mainlanders here but rather the minorities that are being hurt.

The reason why I focus on them is because for true change to happen, they are the group that needs to be convinced most — that’s where the political power potential lies.

In order to tap this potential, this group needs to be humanized by others (as hard as that is for many) and they need to humanize themselves as people who deserve dignity and freedom, and should grant both to others inside and outside of Chinese society as well. (End)