DE-POLITICIZATION OF ETHNIC QUESTIONS IN CHINA (Peking University Sociology and Anthropology)

De-politicizing issues of ethnicity is a new theoretical approach to study ethnic questions actively propounded and elaborated by Professor Ma Rong of Sociology Department of Peking University in the past ten years. In the recent years, this theoretical approach has aroused biggish responses from the academic community in Mainland China, the relevant government departments, and the general public. It is likely to elicit vigorous discussions in the years ahead. The book contains eight selected chapters which represent the main contributions to the debate. The first chapter by Ma Rong is the key paper where in he lays out his main ideas and arguments. The remaining chapters deal with both positive and negative responses to the first chapter, and his replies to them. Readership: Academics, graduates, undergraduate students, and professionals interested in China's ethnic issues and de-politicization issues of ethnicity. CONTENTS 8 Editorial Committee 6 Preface: My Views on the Debate Over “Depoliticizing Ethnicity in China” 10 1. Ma: Why Depoliticize Ethnic Issues? 10 1.1. Difference between the concepts of “nation” and “ethnic group” 11 1.2. Two types of policies for managing ethnic relations and the varied outcomes 12 2. Criticisms of Ma: Can or Should Ethnic Issues be Depoliticized? 14 2.1. Is there a substantial distinction between the concepts of “nation” and “ethnic group”? 15 2.2. Can “ethnic issues” be depoliticized? 17 3. An Initial Assessment: My Views on the Debate 21 3.1. The distinction between “nation” and “ethnic group” must be recognized 21 3.2. “Ethnic” issues should not, and are difficult to be depoliticized 23 3.3. The relationship between “ethnic group” and “nation” is one between “pluralism” and “unity” 28 References 31 Chapter 1. A New Perspective in Guiding Ethnic Relations in the 21st Century: “De-Politicization” of Ethnicity in China 32 1.1. Introduction 32 1.2. “Nation” and “Ethnic Group” 34 1.2.1. The terms used in contemporary China concerning “nation” and “ethnic group” 35 1.3. Two Types of Policies for Managing Ethnic Relations: Politicization and Culturalization 37 1.3.1. The traditional culture-centered view of ethnic relations in Chinese history 37 1.3.2. The European nationalism movement: “politicizing” ethnicity 40 1.3.3. Continuation of the European tradition of “politicizing” ethnicity by the former USSR 42 1.3.4. The “Politicization” of ethnic groups re-emerges in the process of globalization 44 1.3.5. The policy of “acculturation” in the U.S. 45 1.4. The Political and Cultural Levels of “Ethnicity” 47 1.4.1. “An ethnic group” might become a “nation” and re-write its history 47 1.4.2. Practical measures of “politicizing” ethnicity: Institutionalization of ethnic status and ethnic relations 48 1.4.3. “Culturalism” and “nationalism” in modern China 49 1.4.4. The policies of the Chinese government since 1949 51 1.5. The Ideal Nation–ethnicity Framework: Political Unity and Cultural Pluralism 53 1.5.1. Political unity and equality among all ethnic groups 53 1.5.2. “Ethnic cultural pluralism” and “national cultural identity” 54 1.6. Discussion 55 References 56 Chapter 2. Establishing a Socialist Harmonious Society and National Relations 60 2.1. Establishing a Socialist Harmonious Society and Nationalities Co-Development 61 2.2. Establishing a Socialist Harmonious Society and Regional National Autonomy System 68 2.3. Establishing a Socialist Harmonious Society and Protecting the “Two Resources” 79 References 85 Chapter 3. The Two Required Principles for Evaluating National Policies from an National Perspective 88 Chapter 4. Establishing a Multinational Harmonious Society and Resolving National Issues — “Depoliticizing” and “Culturizing” National Issues 92 4.1. Policy Arrangements for Establishing a Multi-National Harmonious Society 94 4.2. Favorable Policies for National Minority Groups in the Establishment of a Socialist Harmonious Society for a Multi-National State 100 4.3. The “Depoliticization” of National Issues: A Stigmatized National Study 103 References 113 Chapter 5. Evaluation on the “Nation Building” of India by the United Nations Development Programme 116 References 121 Chapter 6. On “Afterthoughts” of China’s National Issues and “Being Practical” — Debating Ma Rong 122 6.1. Evaluating National Identification 125 6.2. Evaluating National Regional Autonomy 132 6.3. On National Preferential Policy 141 6.4. On the “Soviet Model” of China’s National Theory and Policy 146 References 163 Chapter 7. My Views on “Depoliticizing” National Issues 168 7.1. The Debate Over “Ethnic Group” 169 7.2. On the Question of Whether National Issues Can Be “Depoliticized” 170 7.3. Afterthoughts on the “National Integration” Process in China’s History 180 References 183 Chapter 8. Current Crux and Solutions to Current Ethnic Issues in China 186 8.1. On the Origin and Meaning of the Concept of Minzu 187 8.2. What Does Minzu Mean in Modern Terms? 187 8.3. What is Meant by “Nation” in Western Europe and What are its Components? 188 8.4. The Goal of Establishing a “Nation”: Building a Nation-State 189 8.5. “Nation-State” of Western Europe 190 8.6. The Second Model of “Nation”: Forced Replication by Other Regions 191 8.7. “Nation-Building” of the Tsarist Russia 191 8.8. Joseph Stalin Made the Soviet Union Into an “Ethnic Union” 192 8.9. “Nation-Building” in the Republic of China After the Late Qing Dynasty 194 8.10. Post 1949 “National Theory” and Nation-Building 195 8.11. The Crux of Current Ethnic Issues in China 197 8.12. New Trends in China’s Ethnic Relations 199 8.13. Solution to the Root of Ethnic Issues in China 200 8.14. Rethinking Minzu Theories and Adjusting Ethnic Policies by “Liberating the Mind and Being Practical” 201 References 203 Index 204 Preface: My views on the debate over "Depoliticizing ethnicity in China" / Xie Lizhong -- ch. 2. A new perspective in guiding ethnic relations in the 21st century: "De-politicization" of ethnicity in China / Ma Rong -- ch. 2. Establishing a socialist harmonious society and national relations / Hao Shiyuan -- ch. 3. The two required principles for evaluating national policies from an national perspective / Zhou Daming -- ch. 4. Establishing a multinational harmonious society and resolving national issues - "Depoliticizing" and "Culturizing" national issues / Chen Jianyue -- ch. 5. Evaluation on the "Nation building" of India by the United Nations Development Programme / Ma Rong -- ch. 6. On "Afterthoughts" of China's national issues and "Being practical"--Debating Ma Rong / Wang Xien -- ch. 7. My views on "Depoliticizing" national issues / Chen Yuping -- ch. 8. Current crux and solutions to current ethnic issues in China / Ma Rong 4e de couv.: De-politicizing issues of ethnicity is a new theoretical approach to study ethnic questions actively propounded and elaborated by Professor Ma Rong of Sociology Department of Peking University in the past ten years. In the recent years, this theoretical approach has aroused biggish responses from the academic community in Mainland China, the relevant government departments, and the general public. It is likely to elicit vigorous discussions in the years ahead. The book contains eight selected chapters which represent the main contributions to the debate. The first chapter by Ma Rong is the key paper where in he lays out his main ideas and arguments. The remaining chapters deal with both positive and negative responses to the first chapter, and his replies to them