Dissertations@Portsmouth - Details for item no. 14291
Bibliographic details and abstracts are available to all. Downloads of full-text dissertations are restricted to University of Portsmouth members who
must login. MPhils may be accessed by all.
Tarry, James (2023) Cultural Genocide or Terrorist threat? Investigating China’s application of counterterrorism strategies and its impact on the discursive framing of Uyghur within the Xinjiang region. (unpublished BA dissertation), University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth
Abstract
Within the XUAR (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) of China, the Uyghur people are experiencing large scale mass repression and persecution including internment in re-education camps, and mass surveillance. Although the region is contested, this minority ethnic group have inhabited Xinjiang for many years practising their religious beliefs and culture. However, China’s treatment of the Uyghur complex; it is not solely a consequence of anti-Muslim feeling. Violence has been perpetrated by Uyghur separatists, but the pattern of global Muslim persecution post 9/11 resulted in a Global War on Terror and the narrative changed from persecution to criminalisation of the Uyghur people. The Chinese state began to rationalise cultural genocide by developing assimilationist ‘hanification’ polices to systematically erase Uyghur language, culture, and religion. A three-pronged counter-insurgency strategy was introduced: ‘Xinjiang mode’ of counterterrorism, which further framed the Uyghur as terrorists needing correction. However, Xinjiang is of key importance to China both economically and politically; labour camps and re-education camps provide cheap labour and increase China’s wealth.
Despite a growing body of evidence of breaches of human rights, cultural genocide and state terrorism, the international community has not forced China to modify its approach in Xinjiang. Moreover, China appears to be further developing an aggressive stance towards Taiwan, whilst simultaneously acting as peacemaker in Ukraine and Yemen. Therefore, the focus of this research is to investigate the impact of China’s counterterrorism strategies - in particular the ‘Xinjiang mode’ and framing the Uyghur as terrorist.
Course: International Relations - BA (Hons)
Date Deposited: 2024-01-15
URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14291.html