Sinicization beyond the Great Wall: China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region

Rahman, Anwar

Book

Sinicization beyond the Great Wall: China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region

Matador • Leicester, Uk • Published In 2005 • Pages:

By: Rahman, Anwar.

Abstract
This account of the sinicization of Xinjiang is written by a Uyghur expatriate who argues that despite Beijing's public pronouncement of respect for Uyghur identity and way of life, its actions demonstrate otherwise. Early chapters include considerable historical coverage, while the remainder of the book is entirely about the second half of the twentieth century. Three main factors have directly and indirectly led to the marginalization of the Uyghur people. First, China's concern for national security in this ethnically diverse border area led to the resettlement of Han Chinese in the region. Second, Beijing changed Uyghur script to the Romanized Chinese alphabet ([i]pinyin[/i]) and introduced Chinese loan words into the Uyghur language. Third, in the drive to develop and control rich oil, coal and land resources, immigrant Han Chinese professionals and workers have been given hiring preference over local minorities. Also, the resulting environmental degradation disrupted traditional ways of life. Additionally, in the post-reform era, the Uyghurs have lost whatever government protections they may have had, resulting in increased discrimination, marginalization, and poverty.

Topography and geology

Mineral resources

Population

Composition of population

External migration

Acculturation and culture contact

Economic planning and development