Uradyn E. Bulag Livres

Focusing on the concept of "collaborative nationalism," this study examines the complexities faced by Mongolian minorities in China as they navigate the challenges of identity and friendship. Through diverse case studies, Bulag highlights the rivalries among China, Japan, Mongolia, and Russia in claiming Mongol heritage to strengthen their national identities. He argues that the ethnopolitical landscape centers on an ethnic group's ability to define and organize its identity, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and self-determination in the face of external pressures.

Set against the backdrop of Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, the narrative follows Cheng Tiejun, a famine refugee who becomes involved in the Red Guards. As the political climate shifts, Inner Mongolia faces the destruction of its Mongol leadership and a brutal crackdown on its culture. Cheng's personal recollections, alongside a critical examination of the era's documentary record, reveal the persecution of Mongols as a form of "politicide," aiming for forced assimilation rather than genocide. This work sheds light on the complexities of Chinese minority politics and historical events.

Focusing on the complex identity of Mongols in China, this study examines how their historical memory interacts with their status as an ethnic minority today. Uradyn E. Bulag analyzes the tension between socialism and nationalism, highlighting the moral dilemmas faced by both Mongols and Chinese in nationality negotiations. As an indigenous anthropologist with Western training, Bulag provides a unique theoretical and personal perspective, offering innovative insights into Chinese and Mongol history and ethnicity from the periphery.