Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies

Abstract

Xinjiang, home to China’s Muslim Uyghur minority, has long been a site of active resistance to unjust rule under Han Chinese leaders. Unrest in Xinjiang, especially violent unrest involving acts such as bombings or mass stabbings, has become notably more frequent in the past few decades. Since late 2001, these incidents have more often than not been officially labeled as acts of terrorism, perpetrated by Uyghur separatists and religious extremists, many of whom are allegedly supported by foreign terrorist organizations. By examining all reported incidents of violent unrest committed by Uyghurs in China during the most recent period of unrest, 2008-2015, this study seeks to determine whether such influences as separatism and religious extremism are now the major factors instigating the unrest, or whether, similar to Uyghur protest and rebellion throughout Xinjiang’s history, unrest has primarily been the result of repressive government policy. The analysis of recent publicly available incident data found that international terrorist groups, Islamic extremism, and Uyghur separatism all appear to have had a limited to negligible influence on the recent unrest. “Strike Hard” Campaigns, ethnic tensions that have largely arisen out of biased government policies and investments, and, most notably, restrictions on Uyghurs’ religious practice and expression appear to have been the most significant factors causing the recent unrest.

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