The Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier

Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

by Benno Weiner

In The Chinese Revolution on the Tibetan Frontier, Benno Weiner provides the first in-depth study of an ethnic minority region during the first decade of the People's Republic of China: the Amdo region in the Sino-Tibetan borderland. Employing previously inaccessible local archives as well as other rare primary sources, he demonstrates that the Communist Party's goal in 1950s Amdo was not just state- building, but also nation-building. Such an objective required the construction of narratives and policies capable of convincing Tibetans of their membership in a wider political community.

As Weiner shows, however, early efforts to gradually and organically transform a vast multiethnic empire into a singular nation-state lost out to a revolutionary impatience, demanding more immediate paths to national integration and socialist transformation. This led in 1958 to communization, then to large-scale rebellion and its brutal pacification. Rather than joining volunatarily, Amdo was integrated through the widespread, often indiscriminate use of violence, a violence that lingers in the living memory of Amdo Tibetans and others.

Genres: China, History, Nonfiction

308 pages, Hardcover

Published June 15, 2020

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting analysis of the 1950s in Amdo and how the CCP went from a semi-imperial strategy (co-opting local elites) to that of homogenizing nation state when attempting to assimilate the local Tibetan population. Weiner shows how the use the two strategies could be drastically changed by prevailing political trends in Beijing and how these changes made the local Tibetan population (especially its elites) very aware of the CCP's end goal.

Especially worth checking out for theorists of imperialism or those interested in Chinese minority policy. I think the tension between these two strategies is still central to CCP minority policy and United Front work in general.

Very nice to see more Tibetan studies research on Amdo and other areas outside of Central Tibet!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, well-researched, thorough, informative, interesting, and important. Essential reading for those interested in PRC history, and the modern history of the Chinese borderlands, nationality policy, and Tibet. A great counter to the campaign time view of PRC history and a great study of the PRC’s United Front work.

[Chyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

魏本岩的叙述以1958年青海安多叛乱为中心，想回答的问题是：这一帝国边疆地区如何被整合进以汉人为主体的社会主义民族国家。统一战线被中共视为转变安多藏区的“法宝”，他们希望团结安多民族与宗教上层人士，使其逐渐地、自愿地走社会主义道路。然而，统一战线最终败于“革命的不耐心”，在一浪高过一浪的社会主义“高潮”和“大跃进”刺激下，青海激进推行牧业集体化与对部落头人、喇嘛僧侣的批判斗争，最终引爆1958年叛乱。中共依靠武力扫平一切反对势力后，统一战线也仅剩空壳。四清、文革时期，在平叛中侥幸未死的安多民族与宗教上层人士再度受到冲击。硕果仅存的几人，在邓时代被安置在政协养老，作为统一战线与民族区域自治“成功”的象征。总的来说，魏本岩认为这一转变是失败的，改革开放时代的经济发展也并不能说服安多藏族，为何他们一定要加入一个汉人为主体的民族国家，火山只是暂时未喷发而已。

[Saddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is incredibly well written and supported. Even if you don't have background in this area, they book well informs you of the field and framework of his work. I read for class but would enjoy outside of assignment.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look into early Communist China and the attempts by the state to maintain stability in minority regions. I wish that the book explored more of the consequences of the Cultural Revolution and other events past 1959, but it's generally a good thing when a book leaves you wanting more to learn.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A local government approach to the history of the Chinese Communist Party, full of detailed information of interest to specialists.