Inter Ethnic Dynamics In Asia

South-East Asia is one of the most complex regions in the world as far as ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity is concerned with an extremely rich ancient and contemporary history. Because of this, it offers an exceptionally rich field of study for inter-ethnic relations. This book examines interethnic relationships between groups and the dynamics of exchange networks throughout Asia and includes case studies based in Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Nepal, China, and Siberia. The innovative aspect of this book lies in the fact that the contributors examine relationships between groups and the dynamics of exchange networks across Asia rather than ethnic groups studied in isolation. Rendering the important moments of daily life of ethnic groups and focussing on the exchanges between groups sharing a specific social space, this approach, today still rarely used in Asian anthropology, allows systems of exchange to emerge and for us to understand the systems of power and local leadership from the inside out. Inter-Ethnic Dynamics in Asia will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian culture and society, ethnicity and regional anthropology.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, said in the Far Eastern Economic Review, 28 October 1996: “The threat is from inside ... So we have to be armed, so to speak. Not with guns, but with the necessary laws to make sure the country remains stable.” He implied that ethnic conflict and political instability are inevitable in a multi-ethnic society unless protected by certain laws. Ethnic conflict is like a time bomb. The misuse of human rights for political ends and to exploit ethnic sentiments can spark ethnic conflict. In theory, the modern nation-state must achieve pluralism in its project of nation building. There are few nations in the world which consist of a single ethnic group. Yet, multi-ethnicity also seems to be a serious challenge to any system of government, especially in Southeast Asia, as it adds possibly deep-running cleavages to societies. Some groups are marginalized in the course of nation-building as a result of the nature of the relationship between nation and state. Arjun Appadurai stated that “the nation and the state have become one another’s project”: groups try to capture states and their power while states try to “monopolize about the nationhood.” There is always tension between the centre and the margin. The centre often consists of one ethnic group and marginalised minority groups are denied their right to equality. Sometimes horrible wars with thousands of victims commence as a consequence of such processes of ethnically-framed nation-building. Therefore, a democratic setting should be functionally superior; that is, in a better position to moderate the escalatory tendencies inherent in a multi-ethnic setting, thereby achieving less violence-prone conflict management, and its eventual resolution in Southeast Asia. This book is intended for anyone interested in the subject of ethnic relations and conflicts, especially politicians, policy makers, civil society activists, academia, and students of ethnic/race studies and Southeast Asian politics.

In this title, international scholars offer empirical and conceptual insights into causes of worldwide ethnic conflict and possible directions for ethnic peace. They focus on six conflicts in South and Southeast Asia and emphasise factors beyond ethnicity that perpetuate these struggles.

This book examines interethic relationships between groups and the dynamics of exchange networks throughout Asia and includes case studies based in Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Nepal, China, Indonesia, and Russia.

· A Space for the Possible: Globalization and English Language Learning for Tibetan Students in China (007-032) by Clothey, Rebecca, and Elena McKinlay · An A mdo Tibetan Pastoralist Family's Lo sar in Stong skor Village by Thurston, Timothy, and Tsering Samdrup · Hail Prevention Rituals and Ritual Practitioners in Northeast Amdo (071-111) by Rdo rje don grub · Pyramid Schemes on the Tibetan Plateau (113-140) by Gonier, Devin, and Rgyal yum sgrol ma · Tibetans and Muslims in Northwest China: Economic and Political Aspects of a Complex Historical Relationship (141-186) by Horlemann, Bianca · Sacred Dairies, Dairymen, and Buffaloes of the Nilgiri Mountains in South India (187-256) by Walker, Anthony · An A mdo Family's Income and Expenditure in 2011 (257-283) by Rdo rje bkra shis, Rta mgrin bkra shis, and Charles Kevin Stuart · Architecture in The bo, 'Brug chu, and Co ne Counties, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu (285-333) by Chos dbying rdo rje · Change, Reputation, and Hair: A Female Rite of Passage in Mtha' ba Village (335-364) by Blo bzang tshe ring, Don 'grub sgrol ma, Gerald Roche, and Charles Kevin Stuart · A College Student (367-386) by 'Phrin las nyi ma · Set Free by Tragedy (387-395) by G.yang mtsho skyid · Who is to Blame? (397-408) by Klu rgyal 'bum · Young Love (409-419) by Bkra shis rab rten · Silent as a Winter Cuckoo (421-426) by Pad+ma dbang chen · QQ Destiny (427-434) by Pad+ma dbang chen · Review - China's Last Imperial Frontier and The Sichuan Frontier and Tibet (437-442) by Entenmann, Robert · Review - Harnessing Fortune (443-448) by Fischler, Lisa C. · Review - Inter-Ethnic Dynamics in Asia (449-453) by Ramirez, Philippe · Review - Spirits of the Place (455-459) by Noseworthy, William B. · Review - Moving Mountains (461-469) by Noseworthy, William B. · Review - The Complete Works of Zhuang Xueben (471-476) by Holmes-Tagchungdarpa, Amy · Review - Religious Revival in the Tibetan Borderlands (477-480) by Wang, Bo · Review - The Sun Rises (481-485 ) by Bender, Mark · Review - Tibetan Buddhists in the Making of Modern China (Chinese Edition) (487-495) by Yu, Dan Smyer, and Zomkyid Drolma · Review - Labrang Monastery (497-500) by Robinson, Christina Kilby · Asian Highlands Perspectives 21 - All Papers (001-500) by Various

Although group conflict is hardly new, the last decade has seen a proliferation of conflicts engaging intrastate ethnic groups. It is estimated that two-thirds of violent conflicts being fought each year in every part of the globe including North America are ethnic conflicts. Unlike traditional warfare, civilians comprise more than 80 percent of the casualties, and the economic and psychological impact on survivors is often so devastating that some experts believe that ethnic conflict is the most destabilizing force in the post-Cold War world. Although these conflicts also have political, economic, and other causes, the purpose of this volume is to develop a psychological understanding of ethnic warfare. More specifically, Handbook of Ethnopolitical Conflict explores the function of ethnic, religious, and national identities in intergroup conflict. In addition, it features recommendations for policy makers with the intention to reduce or ameliorate the occurrences and consequences of these conflicts worldwide.

Dwelling in the highland areas of Northeast India, Bangladesh, Southwest China, Taiwan, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Peninsular Malaysia are hundreds of “peoples”. Together their population adds up to 100 million, more than most of the countries they live in. Yet in each of these countries, they are regarded as minorities. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Peoples of the Southeast Asian Massif contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on about 300 groups, the ten countries they live in, their historical figures, and their salient political, economic, social, cultural and religious aspects. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more.