National Peripheries: Minority Governance and Resistance across Asia

Panel Convenor(s)

• SB

  Shane Barter

  Soka University of America, United States

Panel Chair(s)

• HN

  Handrio Nurhan

  Boston University, United States

Panel Discussant(s)

• HN

  Handrio Nurhan

  Boston University, United States

Presenter(s)

• SB

  Shane Barter

  Soka University of America, United States
• HW

  Hipolitus Wangge

  Australian National University, Australia
• BG

  Belén García-Noblejas

  Waseda University, Japan
• NM

  Natalia Mikhailova

  University Laval, Canada
• RB

  Raghu Bista

  Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Without exception, all countries must manage difference. The papers of this panel draw from experiences across Asia to show how states have tried to manage minority affairs, and how minority groups have responded. The first paper examines territorial autonomy within autocratic countries. While often written off as meaningless, the author suggests that even authoritarian autonomy brings some benefits for minorities. The second paper explores Papuan mobilization under the recent Jokowi regime in Indonesia, highlighting how minorities mobilize in semi-democratic, conflict-prone autonomous regions. The third paper examines the formation of a Tibetan nationalism through The Tibet Mirror, a Tibetan-language periodical published from India as early as 1925. This demonstrates that a Tibetan nationalism and internationalism existed early on, even before the Chinese invasion. The fourth paper examines Chinese discourse towards Xinjiang. Focusing on metaphors used by the Party helps to provide insight into how China sees Xinjiang and its people. Finally, the fifth paper examines a refugee minority pushed into home homes. While the Rohingya refugee crisis is typically understood as an issue for Bangladesh and perhaps Malaysia, this paper shows how they have fared in Nepal, examining government responses to refugees fleeing a humanitarian crisis.

Presentations:

• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Metaphors, Religion and Ethnicity: Critical Discourse Analysis of China´s Official Discourse on Xinjiang
  

  Presenter: Belén García-Noblejas – Waseda University
• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  The big chaos to hosting, recognition & repatriation - Unpredicted crisis of Rohingya in Nepal
  

  Presenter: Raghu B. Bista – Tribhuvan University
• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Territorial Autonomy in Autocracy: 'Sham' Self-Government?
  

  Presenter: Shane Barter – Soka University of America
• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Political Mobilization in Autonomous Region: Papuans' Mobilization under Joko Widodo's Administration
  

  Presenter: Hipolitus Wangge – Australian National University