Abstract

Comprising nearly half the country’s landmass and bordering on eight countries, the traditionally non-Han Chinese areas of China will play a crucial role in the region’s future development. Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang are variously rich in oil, minerals and water resources while simultaneously being regions of potential geo-political instability. This talk will give a broad introduction to the frontier zone, touching on its historical, economic and political significance. There will also be a more in-depth discussion of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which is the focus of my own research.

Ross Anthony is currently working in Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. He is based at the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit.