The Complexity of Nationalism and National Identity in Twenty-First Century Xinjiang

This chapter explores questions of nationalism and national identity in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The official government narrative grossly simplifies the intricacies of history and exacerbates tension in the region by failing to engage with the experiences and perceptions of its citizens in Xinjiang. Xinjiang has witnessed, at times serious, ethnic conflict in recent years. This chapter examines the effect of recent conflict on ideas of the nation and senses of belonging among people from both ethnic groups. It examines the multiplicity of nationalist discourses in Xinjiang, both in terms of state constructed narratives of Chinese national identity, which emphasises ethnic unity and material progress, and with the lived experiences of people in a region struggling with deep divisions.