本文宏觀地討論西方戲劇在華文族群傳播過程中，有關的文化政治和文化身分認同問題。研究包括中國內陸、臺灣、香港、東南亞等四個地理文化區。華文戲劇文化系統的不同地理文化社群，無論在海內外，或因移居、或因流徙、或因被外國占據，在文化傳統、民族意識與本土文化觀念之間，在當地統治者與華文族群之間，會有怎樣的微妙文化互動？這是本文的出發點。 中國現代戲劇的發生與民族主義和政治運動關聯，其勃興則與新文化運動和二十世紀西方文明傳播有關。從華文族群不同地理文化區西方戲劇不同的發展軌跡，可以看到現代華人多元化的文化身分。

This paper discusses with a macro perspective the problematics of the cultural politics and cultural identities as revealed through the development of Modern Chinese Drama in four different geo-cultural regions: Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia. The dynamics among cultural heritage, nationalism, and local consciousness will be explored side by side with the tension between the respective governments and the Chinese people there. The time difference in the emergence of Modern Drama in difference places, and the absence of which during its development in some areas suggest a multiplicity of Chinese cultural identities.