Conflict in Tibet : Internal and External Dimensions

Mukherjee, K. (2021) Conflict in Tibet : Internal and External Dimensions. Asian Affairs, 52 (2). pp. 288-311. ISSN 0306-8374

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Abstract

This article looks at the internal and external dimensions of the on-going Tibetan conflict and argues that these two facets of the conflict are intertwined and should not be viewed separately or independent of one another. Internally, the factors which have contributed to the conflict include repressive Chinese state policies such as Han migration from China proper to Tibet, economic development in Tibet as defined by the Chinese state, and the Patriotic Education Campaigns (PEC) to mention just a few. Externally, foreign powers like India and the US have been involved. India, for instance, has provided Tibetan monks and the Dalai Lama with refuge after the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s. Extensive field trips were undertaken to both India and China from 2015-2019 to carry out the research for this article. In addition to using a range of secondary source material, this article makes use of participant observation as a key research method to further its arguments.