Globalizing minority persecution: China's transnational repression of the Uyghurs

The Long Arm and the Iron Fist: Authoritarian Crackdowns and Transnational Repression

“…The AAAD was chosen as a data source over other TR databases for its combination of geographical and temporal scope relative to other options (e.g. Furstenberg, Lemon, and Heathershaw 2021; Schenkkan and Linzer 2021; Lemon et al 2022; on TR data, see Dukalskis et al 2022). The sample of states under consideration consists of 88 authoritarian regimes in line with the typologies of Geddes, Wright, and Frantz (2014) and Wahman, Teorell, and Hadenius (2013).…”

“…(e.g. Uyghurs abroad in the case of China, see Lemon et al 2022) or simply due to the fact that they are abroad (e.g. North Korean defectors, see Fahy 2019, 131) are the most frequent targets of TR.…”

“…Lessa 2019), in the context of globalization and migration, today’s authoritarian states have turned to TR as a newly salient tool to neutralize political threats. Recent research shows the truly global dimension of TR, with dozens of states around the world involved as perpetrators of TR incidents (Dukalskis 2021; Dukalskis et al, 2022; Lemon et al, 2022; Schenkkan and Linzer 2021). And yet, there is still to our knowledge no global quantitative study on the drivers of TR.…”

“…Beyond digital techniques, authoritarian states engage in TR via their embassies or consulates (Adamson 2019) or through shadow structures like unofficial police stations (Giuffrida 2022). It can further include wings of the ruling political party (Needham and Grubb 2022), educational associations of the host state (Lemon et al 2022, 11), intelligence officers sent abroad clandestinely for short periods of time (Hubbard 2021), sub-contracting to criminal gangs (Glasius 2023), or through cooperation with host state personnel (Lemon 2019), among others.…”

“…Uyghurs with international connections, such as relatives overseas or a history of travel outside China even for non-political reasons, were viewed as suspicious. The PRC's TR tactics range from surveillance to threats to forced repatriation in its efforts to control Uyghurs with foreign links (Lemon et al 2022). The apparent aims of the transnational dimensions of the crackdown on Uyghurs are “to persuade citizens to return to China for re-education; to create mistrust among diaspora members and thereby limit collective mobilization; and to discourage Uyghurs from making appeals for host-country support or engaging in public advocacy” (Greitens, Lee, and Yazici 2020, 20).…”