Abstract
Since the 21st century, the wealth gap and insufficient resources, which are caused by the difference of economic development around the world, are become more and more severe. This phenomenon produced the feeling of crisis for minority groups in many countries. Hence, ethnic separatism and national splittism are upsurging worldly, and ethnic conflicts and local wars keep turning up. In China, the recent 30 years of fast economic development on the east coast and the large scale exploitation of the resources in ethnic minority areas in the westen region arouse a series of problems and conflicts. The severity of ethnic conflicts in Tibet and Sinkiang shows a new peak of China’s ethnic problems. Obvious disputes appear among scholars. The liberal scholars are challenging the regional autonomy, while the conservative scholars are intending to strengthen and improve it. In this background, how to protect the common interest of all ethnic groups, deal with ethnic problems and keep the unity and steadiness of the country are no doubt significant questions for China, an unified multi-ethnic country.This article offers a theoretical and empirical study. Theoretically, this paper will study the current researches first, then summarize and review the regional ethnic autonomy theories, legal systems and the practice of the autonomy power. Afterwards, I will summarize all the arguement about the autonomy laws from a jurisprudence aspect. Empirically, I chose two autonomous prefectures and seven autonomous counties as focus of case study, using the methods of applied sociology and anthropology, through questionnaire surveys and interviews. I described the effects of ethnic autonomy in these areas, by inviting local people to evaluate “the system of regional ethnic autonomy”, “regional ethnic autonomy laws”, and “the exercises of autonomous powers”.
As a conclusion, the regional ethnic autonomy system played a key role in maintaining the territorial integrity and political unification in the early years of the new nation, as well as helped to stabilize the order of ethnic areas during development period. The history has shown that, if the regional ethnic autonomy policies were well implemented and the common interests of all ethic groups were well protected, the ethnic regions would be unified and steady, otherwise there will arise social turmoil. At the current stage, the ethnic regional autonomy system will in a long time be the basic system and laws to deal with ethnic problems and contribute to the peaceful national development.
The current ethnic problems is neither due to the ethnic regional system and laws, nor to the multiple ethnic groups and cultures, but to the lack of just and fair spirits in laws, as well as the insufficient implement of the autonomy system and the weakness autonomous powers. The real problem is whether the higher administration can make sure to fully realize the legal rights of ethnic regions and the local administration can fully exercise their autonomous rights according to the constitutional law. The realization of the spirit of justice and fairness in constitution and ethnic regional autonomy law determines the harmony and strength of all ethnic groups.
| Date of Award | 19 Sept 2017 |
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| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Wenwei GUAN (Supervisor) |