Does the Interpretation of Self-determination Affect Autonomy Struggles in Asia?

Abstract

The anti-colonial interpretation of the right to self-determination has affected the minorities’ autonomy struggles in China and Nepal. The Tibetans in China and the Madheshis in Nepal urge their governments to recognise their self-determination through autonomy. However, the Chinese and Nepalese governments interpret self-determination as the right to independence and hesitate to provide autonomy. Against this background, this paper examines the following question: How has the anti-colonial interpretation of self-determination determined the response of the Nepalese and Chinese governments to ethnic autonomy? It argues that the anti-colonial interpretation has encouraged the Chinese and Nepalese governments to consider autonomy as the other name for self-determination that has independence as its goal. This perception leads these Asian governments to reject ethnic autonomy. These governments thus i) question the sincerity of nationalist movements, ii) refuse the ethnonational narratives of identities and belongingness, and iii) provide limited autonomy.