Pranab Bardhan: Virulence of nationalism

As the troubled Olympic torch relay winds its way to Beijing, the recent fury in China about the evil doings of the "Dalai clique" in Tibet and of the western media goes beyond the ever-active orchestration by the Chinese leadership. As nationalism has replaced socialism as the social glue in this vast country, old memories of humiliation at foreign hands and current pride in phenomenal economic success generate popular resentment at what looks like external attempts to rain on the parade of China's glorious Olympic moment.

Of course, the Chinese protestation that the West is politicising a sports event is disingenuous, as all parties concerned, including the Chinese government, treat it as much more than a sports event. The government now tries to tame the anti