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From Academic Discourse to Political Decisions? The Case of the Xinjiang Ethnic Unity Education Textbook Reform

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2020

Taotao Zhao Open the ORCID record for Taotao Zhao [Opens in a new window]  and
Sow Keat Tok
Taotao Zhao*
Affiliation:
Shenzhen University.
Sow Keat Tok
Affiliation:
University of Melbourne. Email: sowkeat.tok@unimelb.edu.au.
*
Email: zhaotaotao@szu.edu.cn (corresponding author).
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Abstract

Between 2009 and 2014, against the background of the Xinjiang ethnic unity education textbook reform (2009–2010), vigorous academic debate on China's ethnic policy reform took place. Two academic cliques – one championing reform and the other representing the status quo – gradually came to the fore in this debate and competed to influence policy. This research seeks to unpack the mechanisms in China's knowledge regime that allow one agent (such as a think tank or academic) to prevail over others. Agents have an impact on policymaking mainly through connections with the decision-making body. This research uses three variables (ideological connection, level and nature of the connection) to analyse the relative policy influence of different agents in the debate. This research is among the first to provide an in-depth analysis of the debate's policy impact at the local level. The reform clique prevailed in this case because of its ability to bond with and influence higher-level decision-making bodies. Beginning in 2014, the Chinese Communist Party officially adopted the reform clique's language because of its alignment with the Party's growing need to maintain security in ethnic minority areas. Furthermore, key reform clique players continue to have an impact on the national policy shift.

摘要

摘要

2009 年至 2014 年，在新疆民族团结教育教材改革（2009–2010）的背景下，中国学界展开了针对民族政策改革的争论。两个学术派别一个主张改革，一个维持现状，在这场辩论中逐渐崭露头角，争夺政策影响力。本研究旨在揭示中国知识体系中某一个体（如智库或学术机构）战胜其他个体的机制。个体主要通过与决策机构的联系对政策产生影响。本研究利用三个变量（思想意识关联、关联层次和关联性质）来分析该案例中不同主体对政策的影响。该文是首批研究民族政策改革之争在基层的政策影响的学术作品之一。在本案例中，改革派最终占据上风，因为它得以与高层决策机构建立联系并对其施加影响。2014 年后中国共产党正式采纳改革派话语，因为它符合共产党日益增长的维护少数民族地区稳定的需要。此外，该案例中的关键改革派成员至今对国家政策仍具影响。

Keywords

Ethnic unity education textbookknowledge regimeCentral Leading Small Group on Xinjiangethnic policy reform民族团结教育教材知识体系中央新疆领导小组民族政策改革
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 245 , March 2021 , pp. 165 - 185
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Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London, 2020

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