Establishing a Tujia Autonomous Prefecture in Western Hunan: A Chinese Response to the "national Question"

Author(s):

Kai, T.

Format:

Journal article

Citation:

Rural China, Volume 12, Issue 1 (2015). pp. 65-80.

Language:

English

Abstract:

This article explores the history of the establishment of a Tujia-Hmong Autonomous Prefecture, an ethnic autonomous administrative division in Hunan province. The article highlights some significant characteristics of the Chinese institution of ethnic regional autonomy, which fundamentally departs from both the Austrian Marxist and liberal-nationalist prescriptions for solving the so-called national question. It argues that the Chinese design is neither a leftist "ethnic cultural autonomy" nor a rightist "devolved government." It appreciates the cultural psychology of ethnic groups, but also addresses issues beyond cultural affairs. The institution has administrative boundaries like any devolved government, but the ethnic group that forms the majority of the region's population cannot monopolize the local government. Local government cannot become a "nationalized" apparatus dominated by cadres and intellectuals of a particular ethnic minority. The Xiang Xi Tujia-Hmong Autonomous Prefecture is a legal arrangement that balances the interests of all the resident groups, thus providing the possibility of a true "people's government." The Tujia case does not represent a universal solution inasmuch as the characteristics of China's ethnic autonomous regions vary. However, it may still enrich our understanding of the history. This article is in English. © 2015 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.

ISSN:

22136738 (ISSN)

DOI:

10.1163/22136746-12341261

Identifier:

HmongStudies1479