Why is 情结 used here? 然后该文作者笔锋一转，接着就指出了中国这种民族主义自豪情节的另一个方面.

But then, the author of this article accurately points out another aspect of this Chinese nationalistic pride.

I thought "自豪" alone is good enough, because it says pride, not "pride plot."
情节 is a common typo here. It should be 情结. It means complex.

In short, 自豪情节 refers to emotions, memories, perceptions, and wishes in the personal unconscious organized around pride.

Other common usage of the word 情结 include:


恋母情结/恋父情结


Oedipus complex. The complex that surrounds the child's desire to have a sexual relationship with the parent of the sex that adheres to their sexual orientation (mother or father)


处女情结/处男情结


The complex that surrounds the desire of dating a virgin, i.e. being the one to take his/her virginity.