ETHNIC CONFLICT IN XINJIANG: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

The thesis discusses the political turmoil in the Xinjiang province of China, a country which has the largest multinational population and an authoritative regime. The ethnic conflict in Xinjiang has been explained in depth with an objective to deliberate on the causes and consequences of the conflict. The theoretical framework of instrumentalism by Paul Brass is utilized in elucidating the transition of Uyghurs from ethnic category to ethnic community and ultimately to a resonating ethnic nationality. The development of the ethnopolitical movement of Uyghurs and its coercive response from Chinese regime has also been discussed in the thesis. Moreover, the thesis also highlights Beijing’s assimilationist intentions including recent installation of the mass internment camps and usurping the rights of the ethnic minority, increasing the resentment among the Uyghurs. Lastly, the thesis discusses major international and domestic consequences of the ethnic conflict in Xinjiang