Xinjiang at the Turn of the Century, and the Causes of Separatism

Poverty and Exclusion of Minorities in China and India

“…In the literature, these two identities are often considered interchangeable. Indeed, in the case of Xinjiang, the ethnic identity and consciousness of Uygur, the Muslim community, merges with the religion of Islam (Mackerras, 2001). This is also the case with Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).…”

“…In both, poverty and income and non-income inequalities exist within and between minority groups, which is an important cause of discontent, social alienation and violence. The economic motivation for protest and greater voice is reinforced by ethnic identity and religion, to which it is inextricably linked, particularly in Xinjiang (Mackerras, 2001) but also in J&K.…”

Ethnic Minorities and Regional Development in Asia : Reality and Challenges

“…For example, the separatist activities during the 1990s in Tibet and Xinjiang trickled down to the streets of Beijing, where severe crackdowns on Tibetan and Uyghur activities occurred. During the period of former Deng Xiaoping's State funeral (February 1997), bus bombings in Beijing signalled Uyghur contempt for the Chinese state (Rudelson and Jankowiak 2004;Mackerras 2001). In local government circles, ethnic minority community associations are often perceived as malicious and suspected of encouraging the drug trade or inciting "rebellious activities".…”

An elephant in the planning room: Political demography and its influence on sustainable land-use planning in drylands

“…American and Chinese support for Mujahedian fighters in Afghanistan, the break-up of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Central Asian republics fanned hopes for a pan-Turkic revival, especially among discontented young separatists. Exiles from Xinjiang in Kazakhstan and Turkey hold the Chinese government responsible for what they see as numerous undesirable changes in the region: increasing dominance of Han migrants, exploiting Xinjiang's oil and other natural resources with limited benefit to the local communities, testing nuclear weapons at Lopnor, restricting religious freedom and traditional lifestyles and the heavy-handed repression of separatist movements (MacKerras, 2001).…”