Diversity and Citizenship Education in China

Abstract

Since 1949, China has been ruled by the Communist Party of China (CPC). This chapter examines the struggles between ethnic diversity and national integration in education and citizenship education for ethnic minorities (EMs) in China. The chapter argues that national security concern has been used as a lever to adjust the balance between ethnic diversity and national integration in China over time. It has been an important consideration of the CPC-led state in handing ethnic relations and affairs and providing education and citizenship education for EM students. To strengthen national security, the CPC-led state solicits ethnic solidarity and EM groups’ support by making conciliation to them in protecting ethnic diversity through the implementation of preferential EM policies to protect EM groups’ rights and ethnic distinctiveness and enhance their opportunities of participation in Han-dominated mainstream society. When the CPC-led state feels that social stability, ethnic solidarity and territorial integrity are threatened, it would use national security concern, particularly the self-perceived threats of foreign adversary forces, to justify its increase in control over EM relations and affairs and rationalize its measures to escalate national integration by assimilating EM groups into the mainstream society.