Towards a 'harmonious society'? A brief case study of the post-liberation settlement in Beijing of Uyghur intellectuals and their relations with the majority society

Towards a 'harmonious society'? A brief case study of the post-liberation settlement in Beijing of Uyghur intellectuals and their relations with the majority society

Currently, the construction of a 'Harmonious Society' is an important yet challenging official project in the People’s Republic of China. Under Chinese Communist Party supervision, the government has undertaken some measures to
achieve this goal. In the country's capital, Beijing, the majority society ('social majority') is composed of peoples considered to be Han Chinese, but the population there also includes representatives from 55 recognised minority society
groups. Many such latter groups, especially Uyghurs and Tibetans, have long maintained distinctive cultural traditions, practices, languages, and 'memories' from those of the majority society – and are 'different' in physical
appearance, customary dress and other features. Officially, however, all are 'Chinese citizens'. Recently, some negative and disharmonious trends have appeared in majority-minority relations. Based on academic fieldwork research,
this essay focuses on 'Uyghur intellectuals' in Beijing, analytically discussing their relationships with the majority society there, identifying issues and problems in
those relationships, and offering informed, constructive suggestions to achieve a more 'Harmonious Society' in China.

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.