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Xinjiang: China's Muslim Borderland
Eastern Turkestan, now known as Xinjiang or the New Territory, makes up a sixth of China's land mass. Absorbed by the Qing in the 1880s and reconquered by Mao in 1949, this Turkic-Muslim region of China's remote northwest borders on formerly Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Mongolia, and Tibet, Will Xinjiang participate in twenty-first century ascendancy, or will nascent Islamic radicalism in Xinjiang expand the orbit of instability in a dangerous part of the world? This comprehensive survey of contemporary Xinjiang is the result of a major collaborative research project begun in 1998. The authors have combined their fieldwork experience, linguistic skills, and disciplinary expertise to assemble the first multifaceted introduction to Xinjiang. The volume surveys the region's geography; its history of military and political subjugation to China; economic, social, and commercial conditions; demography, public health, and ecology; and patterns of adaption, resistance, opposition, and evolving identities.
506 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
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About the author
S. Frederick Starr
73 books43 followersStephen Frederick Starr (born March 24, 1940) is an American expert on Russian and Eurasian affairs, a musician, and a former college president, having served as President of Oberlin College for 11 years.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 3, 2010
Though I have a solid background in Inner Asian history (from ancient times to the present) and an adequate knowledge of modern Chinese history, there is still plenty I don't know about Xinjiang. In fact, this is the first study specifically dedicated to the region that I have ever read. I found it to be a useful introduction to the political, economic, cultural and security issues present in present-day Xinjiang. It had chapters specifically on Islam in Xinjiang, an unbiased (by the pitfalls of Uyghur or Chinese polemical historiography) look at the history of the Uyghurs and the historical development of the Uyghur identity, the politics of education (in Mandarin or Uyghur) and the doors of opportunity that these divergent paths of learning close or open, the demography of Xinjiang, and various Uyghur responses to Chinese colonialism.
The big lessons I drew from the book were:
1) "Uyghur" was not used as an ethnonym between the 15th and 20th centuries.
2) The ideological composition of Uyghur activist groups are disparate, including combinations of Islamism and secular-nationalism, with an emphasis on the latter. However, there is at least some revolutionary/violent feelings among even these.
3) Through encouraging/forcing Han settlers to relocate to the area after its 18th century conquest onward, the Qing Dynasty was the first Chinese dynasty to thoroughly govern or continuously control the entire territory of Modern Xinjiang for any length of time. Certainly not 5,000 years as the Chinese claim.
4) the East Turkistan Republic was founded on Jadid ideas rather than strict or traditional Islam.
5) from 1943-1941, Xinjiang was a Soviet satellite like Mongolia. Warlord Sheng vacillated between being an ally of Stalin or a supporter of the Guomindang government.
6) Other than recalcitrant Kazakhs (Osman Batur) the PLA faced no serious opposition in occupying Xinjiang in 1949. Of course the ETR was decapitated by the mysterious death of its leadership while flying to attend the National People's Consultative Conference in Beijing, at Mao's invitation.
7) there were 8,139,458 Uyghurs in Xinjiang in 1998, according to official statistics.
8) Uyghurs consider Hui to be more Chinese than Muslim, and Hui think Uyghurs are backward.
9) As of the writing of this book, the Chinese had outlawed children recieving religious instruction, and people under 18 worshiping at mosques. They still officially discourage religion, to include offering kids and government employees special meals during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. Religious beliefs will prevent a Uyghur from rising in the state hierarchy.
10) Uyhgurs have attempted to use traditional Mashrap gatherings to combat substance abuse, but these have lead to state-crackdowns and bloodshed, as they are considered subversive.
Things I didn't like:
1) the opening chapter is Fredrick Starr's attempt to convince the reader that Xinjiang is, in Owen Lattirmore's phrase, "the pivot of the world." Xinjiang is not the pivot of the world. If anywhere in that region is, it would be China (due to economic factors) or Afghanistan (b/c of current security issues). Everybody tries to make his subject area important, no crime in that. But, c'mon Starr.
2) The last chapter, "Responses to Chinese Rule" tries to maintain that all these terror incidents in China over the last decade can't really be connected to Uyghur groups, Uyghur groups/activists are not really of the jihadi bent. the argument may be valid and the logic sound, I haven't done the research after all, but it sounded a bit to apologetic to me. Best to not let our convictions run away with our common sense when it comes to academic matters. The Chinese still treat the Uyghurs badly, nobody is going to argue against that except Beijing and its supporters.
3) Much of the data is nearly 10 years old now. Hope they'll be a new edition soon.
The big lessons I drew from the book were:
1) "Uyghur" was not used as an ethnonym between the 15th and 20th centuries.
2) The ideological composition of Uyghur activist groups are disparate, including combinations of Islamism and secular-nationalism, with an emphasis on the latter. However, there is at least some revolutionary/violent feelings among even these.
3) Through encouraging/forcing Han settlers to relocate to the area after its 18th century conquest onward, the Qing Dynasty was the first Chinese dynasty to thoroughly govern or continuously control the entire territory of Modern Xinjiang for any length of time. Certainly not 5,000 years as the Chinese claim.
4) the East Turkistan Republic was founded on Jadid ideas rather than strict or traditional Islam.
5) from 1943-1941, Xinjiang was a Soviet satellite like Mongolia. Warlord Sheng vacillated between being an ally of Stalin or a supporter of the Guomindang government.
6) Other than recalcitrant Kazakhs (Osman Batur) the PLA faced no serious opposition in occupying Xinjiang in 1949. Of course the ETR was decapitated by the mysterious death of its leadership while flying to attend the National People's Consultative Conference in Beijing, at Mao's invitation.
7) there were 8,139,458 Uyghurs in Xinjiang in 1998, according to official statistics.
8) Uyghurs consider Hui to be more Chinese than Muslim, and Hui think Uyghurs are backward.
9) As of the writing of this book, the Chinese had outlawed children recieving religious instruction, and people under 18 worshiping at mosques. They still officially discourage religion, to include offering kids and government employees special meals during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. Religious beliefs will prevent a Uyghur from rising in the state hierarchy.
10) Uyhgurs have attempted to use traditional Mashrap gatherings to combat substance abuse, but these have lead to state-crackdowns and bloodshed, as they are considered subversive.
Things I didn't like:
1) the opening chapter is Fredrick Starr's attempt to convince the reader that Xinjiang is, in Owen Lattirmore's phrase, "the pivot of the world." Xinjiang is not the pivot of the world. If anywhere in that region is, it would be China (due to economic factors) or Afghanistan (b/c of current security issues). Everybody tries to make his subject area important, no crime in that. But, c'mon Starr.
2) The last chapter, "Responses to Chinese Rule" tries to maintain that all these terror incidents in China over the last decade can't really be connected to Uyghur groups, Uyghur groups/activists are not really of the jihadi bent. the argument may be valid and the logic sound, I haven't done the research after all, but it sounded a bit to apologetic to me. Best to not let our convictions run away with our common sense when it comes to academic matters. The Chinese still treat the Uyghurs badly, nobody is going to argue against that except Beijing and its supporters.
3) Much of the data is nearly 10 years old now. Hope they'll be a new edition soon.
October 13, 2011
“Xinjiang: China's Muslim borderland.” brings together 15 of the world's experts on Xinjiang, and the Muslim ethnic minorities that live there, and provides for a broad survey of a region of China's north-west that has been, for centuries, at the very crossroads of civilisations.
Contributors such as Dru Gladney, James Millward and Gardner Bovington, all renowned experts, introduce us to this magical, historical and extremely important area of China. An area that for reasons of economics and strategic importance, not to mention it's sheer size, comprising 1/6th of China's landmass, provides many challenges and opportunities for China, none more important than the challenges posed by,and for, the near majority Muslim population.
This book, written by academics, is easily accessible for the non academic and is a perfect overall introduction to Xinjiang and in particular the Uyghur Muslim people. It covers history, economics the environment, military considerations and important social issues, the latter the main reason for Xinjiang coming to the world's attention in the late 1980's
This book, first published in 2004 and unfortunately yet to be revised, was borne out of the world's need to understand Xinjiang especially as it concerns the Uyghur people and China's policy towards them. A policy that has resulted in many mass clashes leading to severe oppression, imprisonments, religious persecution, executions and death in “strike hard” programmes and Han in-migration as China attempts to Sinocise the region.
The book, being seven years old, obviously is dated in terms of statistical data provided but, that aside, the issues canvassed are no less relevant today as they were then.
If you read no other book on Xinjiang you will have a more than acceptable level of appreciation of this fantastic region and it's peoples.
Contributors such as Dru Gladney, James Millward and Gardner Bovington, all renowned experts, introduce us to this magical, historical and extremely important area of China. An area that for reasons of economics and strategic importance, not to mention it's sheer size, comprising 1/6th of China's landmass, provides many challenges and opportunities for China, none more important than the challenges posed by,and for, the near majority Muslim population.
This book, written by academics, is easily accessible for the non academic and is a perfect overall introduction to Xinjiang and in particular the Uyghur Muslim people. It covers history, economics the environment, military considerations and important social issues, the latter the main reason for Xinjiang coming to the world's attention in the late 1980's
This book, first published in 2004 and unfortunately yet to be revised, was borne out of the world's need to understand Xinjiang especially as it concerns the Uyghur people and China's policy towards them. A policy that has resulted in many mass clashes leading to severe oppression, imprisonments, religious persecution, executions and death in “strike hard” programmes and Han in-migration as China attempts to Sinocise the region.
The book, being seven years old, obviously is dated in terms of statistical data provided but, that aside, the issues canvassed are no less relevant today as they were then.
If you read no other book on Xinjiang you will have a more than acceptable level of appreciation of this fantastic region and it's peoples.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews