“各族人民亲如一家" ("People of All Ethnic Groups are Like One Family): Creating a Multi-Ethnic State With Chinese Characteristics

 

Pix Credit HERE

 

Pix Credit HERE

The great issue that faced nations emerging from the last great age of territorial empire was that of absorbing minority populations within a large territorial state with no claims to the imperial characteristics that marked global discourse through the beginning of the Second World War. The Americans had their "melting pot" (a cultural or political or comprehensive integration of migrants into the political culture of the Republic; in its extreme form assimilation that required the subordination of home state culture and normative orientations to that of the new home states conceived by its elites)) though that is now considered taboo in some quarters in the inter-elite warfare that rages in the contemporary United States. They now speak in terms of the metaphor of the salad bowl which is deployed against the older discursive imagery of pots meting the differentiated into an undifferentiated new whole.  Nonetheless, both speak to the fundamental necessity of some sort of integration of successive waves of settlers (however they arrived willingly or unwillingly) into the singular political corpus of a Republic of now amalgamated identities. The salad bowl notion, though, also posits the sometimes immutable (and sometimes mutable) characteristics of difference and toward the edges of its logic suggests either an active (positive) preservation of the old ways in their new environment or the manifestation of emerging self-reflexive identities; and in this way aligned sometimes with emerging identity political-culture discourses. 

The European spoke to being united in diversity. They thought well enough of it to make it the motto of its European Union. In both cases, these large multi-ethnic governance units sought to develop a singular demos from aggregations of peoples as concerned about what made them different form their neighbors as in what did not. In the United States that consisted of efforts to align multiple ways of settlers that overwhelmed an original native population that eventually was also urged to join in. In Europe, it was meant to cement the realities of European diversity that was meant to be cemented  after the great bout of ethnic cleansing and population movements before 1950 that served the goals of eliminating Prussia from the map and honoring the Soviet's treaty with the Third Reich in 1939, among other reasons. After the 1950s it increasingly included the need for the digestion of new waves of settlers from the dar al Islam, Africa, Asia, and Latin America who now sought to call Europe home, and to ensure they felt comfortable in their new residence.  

In both vases, migration, settlement, and the duties and responsibilities, much less the expectations of migrants and those  who make room for them in migrant target states remains highly controversial and politically explosive. Its cultural signification remains in deep flux, and its legal treatment as a matter of international and domestic law remains fluid. 

And now China.  

In August 2021, Qiushi, the theoretical organ of the Chinese Communist Party, reported on the thinking of Xi Jinping abd the Chinese leadership core, on the issues of ethnicity and ethnicity policy within China. 求是网评论员：紧紧抓住铸牢中华民族共同体意识这条主线 来源：求是网 作者：求是网评论员 2021-08-29 15:19:34 (Qiushi.com commentator: firmly grasp the main line of casting a sense of community of the Chinese nation; Source: Qiushi.com Author: Qiushi.com commentator 2021-08-29 15:19:34).

Xi Jinping rejected both the American notions of meting pot or salad bowl, as well as the European one of united in diversity for a more intimate imagery--the imagery of the family.  But not a Western family, but a family that understands the demands of filial duty and one, as well, that is lead and guided by its core--generously its parents.  Certainly the temptation to read Confucian elements into this construct of diversity and the discursive basis for dealing with ethnic minorities is overwhelmingly tempting.  And its echos are likely unavoidable.  Bit the concept is essentially a Leninist one--with Chinese characteristics.  It replicated the fundamental organization trope of Chinese Leninism--one grounded in the fundamental normative power of democratic centralism ("This unity of democracy and centralism, of freedom and discipline, constitutes our democratic centralism. Under this system, the people enjoy extensive democracy and freedom, but at the same time they have to keep within the bounds of socialist discipline." Mao Zedong, " On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" (February 27, 1957)).  And yet, like the thinking in the United States before the close of the last century, the object involves"consolidating the consciousness of the Chinese nation as a community." Cinsider the five point elements of the ethnic policy:

First, we must comprehensively promote the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. . . .  (一要全面推进中华民族共有精神家园建设。)

Second, we must promote the common movement of all ethnic groups towards socialist modernization. . .  (二要推动各民族共同走向社会主义现代化。)

The third is to promote exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups. . . . (三要促进各民族交往交流交融。)

Fourth, we must improve the modernization level of the governance system and governance capacity for ethnic affairs. . . (四要提升民族事务治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。)

Fifth, we must resolutely prevent major risks and hidden dangers in the ethnic field. . . (五要坚决防范民族领域重大风险隐患。)

This is not melting pot, but neither is it unity through diversity. It certainly is not a salad bowl. Is embodies the notion that ethnicity, like all difference, must serve  the common aspirations of the nation under the guidance of a vanguard, but not exist either autonomously or independent of the collective of which it is a part. Difference within may be recognized, different outside cannot. And that likely makes the thrust potentially incompatible with the thrust of cultural movement respecting settler migration in liberal democratic states.  Whatever one thinks of the policy from one's home perspective, it is clear that the policy aligns strongly with currents of new era ideology and the evolution of Chinese Leninist principles after 2015. It also points to a further divergence between the sensibilities of the liberal democratic camp and those of Marxist Leninist states, even holding for cultural, contextual and historical difference.  It is that gap that is worth studying for their effect and for the way they may affect discussion of the issues at a global level. The essay appears in full below in the original Chinese and in a crude English translation. 

求是网评论员：紧紧抓住铸牢中华民族共同体意识这条主线
来源：求是网 作者：求是网评论员 2021-08-29 15:19:34

　　习近平总书记在中央民族工作会议上强调，做好新时代党的民族工作，要把铸牢中华民族共同体意识作为党的民族工作的主线。这一重要论断，从中华民族伟大复兴的战略高度，准确把握现阶段党的民族工作的历史方位和重要任务，体现出厚重的历史底蕴和鲜明的时代特色，为推进新时代党的民族工作高质量发展指明了前进方向。

　　改革开放以来特别是党的十八大以来，我们党强调中华民族大家庭、中华民族共同体、铸牢中华民族共同体意识等理念，既一脉相承又与时俱进贯彻党的民族理论和民族政策，积累了把握民族问题、做好民族工作的宝贵经验，形成了党关于加强和改进民族工作的重要思想。习近平总书记指出：“各族人民亲如一家，是中华民族伟大复兴必定要实现的根本保证。实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦，就要以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线，把民族团结进步事业作为基础性事业抓紧抓好。”铸牢中华民族共同体意识，就是要引导各族人民牢固树立休戚与共、荣辱与共、生死与共、命运与共的共同体理念。

　　要深刻认识铸牢中华民族共同体意识的历史必然性、极端重要性和现实针对性。第一，这是维护各民族根本利益的必然要求。只有铸牢中华民族共同体意识，构建起维护国家统一和民族团结的坚固思想长城，各民族共同维护好国家安全和社会稳定，才能有效抵御各种极端、分裂思想的渗透颠覆，才能不断实现各族人民对美好生活的向往，才能实现好、维护好、发展好各民族根本利益。第二，这是实现中华民族伟大复兴的必然要求。只有铸牢中华民族共同体意识，才能有效应对实现中华民族伟大复兴过程中民族领域可能发生的风险挑战，才能为党和国家兴旺发达、长治久安提供重要思想保证。第三，这是巩固和发展平等团结互助和谐社会主义民族关系的必然要求。只有铸牢中华民族共同体意识，才能增进各民族对中华民族的自觉认同，夯实我国民族关系发展的思想基础，推动中华民族成为认同度更高、凝聚力更强的命运共同体。第四，这是党的民族工作开创新局面的必然要求，只有顺应时代变化，按照增进共同性的方向改进民族工作，做到共同性和差异性的辩证统一、民族因素和区域因素的有机结合，才能把新时代党的民族工作做好做细做扎实。

　　习近平总书记指出，铸牢中华民族共同体意识是新时代党的民族工作的“纲”，所有工作要向此聚焦。落实总书记的这一重要要求，就要把铸牢中华民族共同体意识贯穿民族工作的各领域和全过程。

一要全面推进中华民族共有精神家园建设。在党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史学习教育中，深入总结我们党百年民族工作的成功经验，深化对我们党关于加强和改进民族工作重要思想的研究，加强现代文明教育，深入实施文明创建、公民道德建设、时代新人培育等工程，引导各族群众在思想观念、精神情趣、生活方式上向现代化迈进。

二要推动各民族共同走向社会主义现代化。完善差别化区域支持政策，支持民族地区全面深化改革开放，提升自我发展能力，加大对民族地区基础设施建设、产业结构调整支持力度，优化经济社会发展和生态文明建设整体布局，不断增强各族群众获得感、幸福感、安全感。

三要促进各民族交往交流交融。充分考虑不同民族、不同地区的实际，统筹城乡建设布局规划和公共服务资源配置，完善政策举措，营造环境氛围，逐步实现各民族在空间、文化、经济、社会、心理等方面的全方位嵌入。

四要提升民族事务治理体系和治理能力现代化水平。根据不同地区、不同民族实际，以公平公正为原则，突出区域化和精准性，更多针对特定地区、特殊问题、特别事项制定实施差别化区域支持政策。

五要坚决防范民族领域重大风险隐患。守住意识形态阵地，积极稳妥处理涉民族因素的意识形态问题，持续肃清民族分裂、宗教极端思想流毒。加强国际反恐合作，做好重点国家和地区、国际组织、海外少数民族华侨华人群体等的工作。

　　加强和完善党的全面领导，是做好新时代党的民族工作的根本政治保证。必须把党的领导贯穿民族工作全过程，形成党委统一领导、政府依法管理、统战部门牵头协调、民族工作部门履职尽责、各部门通力合作、全社会共同参与的新时代党的民族工作格局。

　　（编辑：蔡春玲）

Qiushi.com commentator: firmly grasp the main line of casting a sense of community of the Chinese nation
Source: Qiushi.com Author: Qiushi.com commentator 2021-08-29 15:19:34

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Central Ethnic Work Conference that to do a good job in the party's ethnic work in the new era, the main line of the party's ethnic work should be to build a sense of community of the Chinese nation. This important conclusion, from the strategic height of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, accurately grasps the historical orientation and important tasks of the party's ethnic work at the current stage, reflects the profound historical background and distinctive characteristics of the times, and is a great way to promote the party's ethnic work in the new era. Quality development points the way forward.

Since the reform and opening up, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has emphasized the concept of the big family of the Chinese nation, the community of the Chinese nation, and the awareness of the community of the Chinese nation. The valuable experience of grasping ethnic issues and doing a good job in ethnic work has formed the party's important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "People of all ethnic groups are like one family, which is the fundamental guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must focus on building the consciousness of the Chinese nation's community, and unite and progress the nation. The cause should be taken as a basic cause." To build a sense of community of the Chinese nation is to guide the people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the concept of a community that shares weal and woe, weal and woe, life and death, and destiny.

It is necessary to deeply understand the historical inevitability, extreme importance and practical pertinence of consolidating the consciousness of the Chinese nation as a community. First, it is an inevitable requirement to safeguard the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups. Only by forging a sense of community of the Chinese nation, building a strong ideological wall to safeguard national unity and national unity, and jointly safeguarding national security and social stability of all ethnic groups, can we effectively resist the infiltration and subversion of all kinds of extremist and separatist ideas, and can we continuously realize the realization of all ethnic groups. The people's yearning for a better life can realize, maintain and develop the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups. Second, this is an inevitable requirement for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Only by consolidating the consciousness of the community of the Chinese nation can we effectively deal with the risks and challenges that may occur in the national field in the process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and can provide important ideological guarantees for the prosperity and long-term stability of the party and the country. Third, it is an inevitable requirement to consolidate and develop equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmonious socialist ethnic relations. Only by forging a sense of community of the Chinese nation can we enhance the conscious identification of all ethnic groups with the Chinese nation, consolidate the ideological foundation for the development of ethnic relations in our country, and promote the Chinese nation to become a community of destiny with a higher degree of recognition and stronger cohesion. Fourth, this is an inevitable requirement for the party's ethnic work to create a new situation. Only by adapting to the changes of the times, improving ethnic work in the direction of enhancing commonality, and achieving the dialectical unity of commonality and difference, and the organic combination of ethnic and regional factors Only then can the party's national work in the new era be done well, meticulously, and solidly.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that building a sense of community of the Chinese nation is the "programme" of the party's national work in the new era, and all work should focus on this. To implement this important requirement of the General Secretary, we must cast a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation throughout all fields and the entire process of ethnic work.

First, we must comprehensively promote the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation. In the study and education of the history of the party, the history of new China, the history of reform and opening up, and the history of socialist development, we will deeply summarize the successful experience of our party's century-old ethnic work, deepen the research on our party's important ideas on strengthening and improving ethnic work, and strengthen modern civilization education. We must carry out in-depth projects such as the establishment of shared civilization, the construction of civic morality, and the cultivation of new talents for the times, and guide the masses of all ethnic groups toward modernization of their ideology, spiritual taste, and way of life.

Second, we must promote the common movement of all ethnic groups towards socialist modernization. That requires improvement of policies of differentiated regional support, improvement to support the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up in ethnic areas, improvement of self-development capabilities, support for increasing infrastructure construction and industrial structure adjustment in ethnic areas, the optimization of the overall layout of economic and social development and ecological civilization construction, and the continuous strengthening of  the People's sense of gain, happiness, and security.

The third is to promote exchanges and integration of various ethnic groups. We must fully consider the realities of different ethnic groups and regions, coordinate urban and rural construction layout planning and the allocation of public service resources, improve policies and measures, create an environmentally firendly atmosphere, and gradually realize the all-round embedding of various ethnic groups in the national space, culture, economy, society, and psychology.

Fourth, we must improve the modernization level of the governance system and governance capacity for ethnic affairs. That should be undertaken with sensitivity to the actual situation of different regions and different ethnic groups, based on the principle of fairness and justice; it should  highlight contextually precise regionalization, and should be based on the formulation and implementation of differentiated regional support policies for specific regions, special problems, and special matters.

Fifth, we must resolutely prevent major risks and hidden dangers in the ethnic field. We must hold the national ideological position, actively and prudently handle ideological issues involving ethnic factors, and continue to eliminate ethnic divisions and religious extremism. We must strengthen international anti-terrorism cooperation, with a focus on effective cooperation in key countries and regions, within international organizations, and through overseas ethnic and overseas Chinese groups.

Strengthening and improving the party's overall leadership is the fundamental political guarantee for the party's ethnic work in the new era. The Party's leadership must be integrated throughout the entire process of ethnic work, and a new era of ethnic work pattern of the party must be formed, in which the Party committee leads the unified leadership, the government manages according to the law, the United Front Department takes the lead in coordinating, the ethnic work department performs its duties with due diligence, all departments cooperate with each other, and the whole society participates together.

(Editor: Cai Chunling)

 

 

Qiushi.com commentator: firmly grasp the main line of casting a sense of community of the Chinese nation
Source: Qiushi.com Author: Qiushi.com commentator 2021-08-29 15:19:34

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Central Ethnic Work Conference that to do a good job in the party's ethnic work in the new era, the main line of the party's ethnic work should be to build a sense of community of the Chinese nation. This important conclusion, from the strategic height of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, accurately grasps the historical orientation and important tasks of the party's ethnic work at the current stage, reflects the profound historical background and distinctive characteristics of the times, and is a great way to promote the party's ethnic work in the new era. Quality development points the way forward.

Since the reform and opening up, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our party has emphasized the concept of the big family of the Chinese nation, the community of the Chinese nation, and the awareness of the community of the Chinese nation. The valuable experience of grasping ethnic issues and doing a good job in ethnic work has formed the party's important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "People of all ethnic groups are like one family, which is the fundamental guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must focus on building the consciousness of the Chinese nation's community, and unite and progress the nation. The cause should be taken as a basic cause." To build a sense of community of the Chinese nation is to guide the people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the concept of a community that shares weal and woe, weal and woe, life and death, and destiny.