ABSTRACT
Unification and national integration are common goals of every modern state, but this can be traced in the concept of unification within the traditional political philosophy in China. The all-embracing unification within a monolithic Han nation state, civilisational projects, culturalism as well as different shades of Chinese nationalism since the late Qing period has shaped perceptions, prejudices and policies towards the national minorities. Nationalism has been identified here as yet another form of state ideology. In this regard, Fei Xiaotong’s theory of plurality and unity in the configuration of the Chinese people encapsulates official thinking of the Chinese nation. The Uyghur national identity evolved as the community experienced with pan-Turkic and pan-Islamic ideologies, nationalist movements as well as various political upheavals in the 20th century. The state-initiated ethnic identification and the newly found ethnic identity has further bolstered the Uyghur identity and strengthened their sense of nationhood. For over 60 years, national sentiment among the Uyghur has grown stronger in the face of various integrationist projects, Han chauvinism and exclusionism, official ethnic history and patriotic education.
