Abstract

National identity construction has been widely carried out. In a crisis, constructing national identity vertically may be failed because of the criticism of formalism. Microsocial interaction exists in society, and the interactive ritual constructs the meaning of governance. The individual obtains emotional energy by participating in the interactive ritual, forms the national identity, and produces social unity. However, there is little research on this process. This paper explores ways to shape national identity from the bottom up. It is found that the symbolic meaning of governance behaviour can be visualized, agreed upon and emotional through interactive rituals, resulting in the presence of national symbols, consensus order and emotional mobilization. Finally, the interactive ritual realized emotional mobilization and social order reconstruction. The conclusion of this study is of reference value for the improvement of crisis management and national governance capacity, enriching the interactive ritual theory.