A Deliberative Approach to the Tibet Autonomy Issue

Chapter 10 reviews and compares three deliberative approaches to conflict, and applies the deliberative approach to the Tibet autonomy issue. It examines the case of a deliberative workshop, including its achievements and limitations. This chapter demonstrates that this deliberative dialogue has improved knowledge and mutual understanding, enhanced mutual trust and deliberative capacities, and produced moderating effects.

Beyond Chinese Linguistic Imperialism: Multi-linguistic Policy

In discussing the erosion of Tibetan language teaching in Tibet, Chapter 9 explores China’s long history of ‘linguistic imperialism’ and asks how it is mediating, and perhaps even undermining, multicultural education in the PRC. It finds that China’s linguistic history has been one of linguistic imperialism in which China’s language policies have been shaped by the dominance of the Chinese script and by the state’s desire to create and maintain Great Unity. This chapter also offers insight into the probable future direction of linguistic trends of Tibetan language teaching, and suggests several ways in which China can go beyond linguistic imperialism in pursuing a plural and multi-linguistic language policy.

Beyond Socialist Autonomy in Tibet

Chapter 8 examines in detail the current practice of autonomy in China. It first examines current Chinese official practice of autonomy, followed by a discussion of the Dalai Lama’s proposal on the Middle Way to achieve genuine autonomy. It then discusses and explains why Beijing rejects the Dalai Lama’s proposal and offers several explanations for the current deadlock. Finally it makes some suggestions on how to make a breakthrough.

The Real Utopian Approach

Chapter 2 examines two paradigms for the Taiwan and Tibet question, namely realism and democracy. It provides a brief account of the general features of each paradigm and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. It questions some presuppositions of the two intellectual frameworks through which scholars study Taiwan and Tibet and political actors propose various solutions to the Taiwan and Tibet question. The chapter introduces and employs Eric Wright’s “real utopian” approach, which combines both normative and empirical thinking, and considers the conditions under which various democratic solutions to the Taiwan and Tibet question are proposed and attempted. Moving back and forth between realism and democracy, the book develops a methodologically reflective equilibrium, which continues throughout the book.

The Idea of Deliberative Referendum: Synthesis and Conclusion

Chapter 11 aims at not only to provide a summary of the discussion of democratic approaches in the book, but to develop an integrated theory of democratic governance which is centred on deliberative referendum. It also develops a synthesis of the theory and case studies of the book.

Referendum and the Taiwanese National Identity

Chapter 5 focuses on the debate over the resolution of Taiwanese national identity through referendums. It provides a comprehensive historical and political overview of the issues involved, and examines the prospects for future referendums and their policy implications. The chapter examines the referendum proposal adopted by the DPP, the referendum law debated in the legislative Yuan, and the administrative regulation proposed by the Executive Yuan. It also examines the manipulative aspect of referendum and suggests that a future referendum should follow the guidelines of deliberative democracy to achieve a deliberative referendum.

Introduction

This book examines the simple but significant idea that ordinary citizens have the right to voice their opinion on the national boundary/identity question and to cast votes on it in a form of referendum. Citizen’s voice and public deliberation mechanisms are powerless without a voting device. A vote without citizen’s voice and public deliberation is fraught with danger; it escalates conflict rather than solving or managing it. It is necessary to combine referendum and public deliberation: a sort of deliberative referendum (...

Confucian and Marxist Theoretical Traditions of Minority Rights and Beyond

Chapter 7 examines the theoretical sources of current Chinese policies on minority rights. It traces a complex combination of various intellectual inheritances, combining echoes of Confucian ideas of paternalistic guardianship over “backward groups” or "younger brothers" with echoes of Marxist/Leninist ideas of ethnic autonomy, mixed with further echoes of liberal ideas of minority rights and affirmative action policies for minority groups.

Nationalism, Democratisation and the Taiwan Question

Chapter 4 compares nationalism and democratization in Taiwan and China, and, in particular, seeks to develop an understanding of the rise of Taiwanese nationalism and its impact on democratization, as well as the impact democratization has on the politics associated with the national identity question. It examines the effects of democratization and nationalism that continue to contribute to the outcome in managing the national identity conflicts across the Taiwan Strait.

The Empire Thesis and its Critics

Chapter 3 examines the historically-based thesis on empire that argues that the democratic process evolving from ‘empire’ to nation-state presents a challenge for China’s territorial integrity. It analyzes the impact of China’s national identity question on Chinese democratization, and explores why China has difficulty establishing democracy. Through demonstrating the conflictive logic between democracy and state nationalism in the context of China’s national identity issue, it provides an explanation or an understanding of, not a justification for, the Party/State’s resistance to democracy. The chapter also argues against a strong historical determinism and emphasizes the importance of agency. It explores the possible democratic solutions through which China could avoid the logic of “the empire thesis”.