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Photo of Martin Lavička

Martin Lavička

Visiting research fellow

Photo of Martin Lavička

Folklorized politics : How Chinese Soft Power Works in Central Asia

Author

  • Soledad Jiménez-Tovar
  • Martin Lavička

Summary, in English

The main aim of this article is to develop a discussion on folklorization or how identity is commodified and reduced to only some cultural traits. Currently, folklorization is one of the main devices in PRC’s cultural and political policies in Central Asia. Authors analyze folklorization both inter-state with a particular focus on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and intra-state, with focus on Xinjiang, based on empirical data collected in these countries. The discussion provided is about China’s soft power and how it is projected to Central Asia under the administration of Xi Jinping. Moreover, it is concerned about folklorization as a political tool, utilized by the PRC government to mitigate tensions in the Xinjiang region, but also folklorized landscapes to be found also in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Publishing year

2020-04-02

Language

English

Pages

244-268

Publication/Series

Asian Ethnicity

Volume

21

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Routledge

Topic

  • Political Science

Keywords

  • Central Asia
  • Chinese soft power
  • Dungan
  • Folklorization
  • minzu huaqiao
  • Uyghur
  • Xinjiang

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1463-1369