I am Tibetan? An exploration of online identity constructions among Tibetans in China

Abstract

Matters concerning Tibetan sovereignty, self-determination and political representation continue to be mired in intractable controversy as the People’s Republic of China and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile remain diametrically opposed on virtually all issues concerning Tibet’s political status, history and how it ought to be represented. Beyond these two dominant narratives, the relevant literature has paid scant attention to the other actors in this dispute, namely Tibetan people living throughout China. This article investigates identity constructions among Tibetan netizens in China through the use of forums, blogs and video postings. These flourishing new platforms for voicing and constructing alternative identity narratives provide a valuable and yet largely unexplored resource for examining how Tibetans in China construct self-representations in a time of increased interconnectivity, migration and cultural flux. By exploring the very lively and thriving participation of Tibetans in the Sino-blogosphere, this article showcases the highly diverse and creative processes of identity construction among Tibetan netizens based in China, and the myriad of ways in which Tibetans connect and disconnect online.