Research Information System
Asian Ethnicity, vol.12, no.1, pp.1-31, 2011 (Scopus)
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 (Chinese source), but the population there also includes representatives from 55 recognised minority society groups (Chinese source). 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' (Chinese source). 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. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.