ABSTRACT

Regional Autonomy, Cultural Diversity and Differentiated Territorial Government assesses the current state of the international theory and practice of autonomy in order to pursue the possibility of regional self-government in Tibet. Initiated by a workshop and roundtable with political representatives from different autonomous regions, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, this book brings together a group of distinguished international scholars to offer a much-needed enquiry into solutions to the Tibetan quest for ‘genuine’ autonomy. Examining the Chinese framework of regional self-government, along with key international cases of autonomy in Europe, North America and Asia, the contributors to this volume offer a comprehensive context for the consideration of both Tibetan demands and Chinese worries. Their insights will be invaluable to academics, practitioners, diplomats, civil servants, government representatives, international organisations and NGOs interested in the theory and practice of autonomy, as well as those concerned with the future of Tibet.

chapter |20 pages

Neither panacea, nor Pandora’s box

Comparing autonomy with a view on Tibet and China

part 1|109 pages

Differentiated territorial government in China: Potential for Tibet?

chapter 1|24 pages

Foreign influence and constitutionalism in the PRC

A Western perspective on change and uncertainty in contemporary Chinese legal culture

chapter 2|20 pages

The rule of law in China

Fundamental uncertainties about ‘decoding’ a fundamental concept

chapter 4|23 pages

Chinese policies on regional self-government

The case of Tibet

chapter 5|16 pages

The Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People

An explanatory introduction to the Tibetan proposal

part 2|185 pages

Practice of regional autonomy: Experiences compared

chapter 6|23 pages

From compromise to compact?

Working autonomy in South Tyrol

chapter 7|19 pages

Asymmetric regionalism in Spain

Catalonia and the Basque Country

chapter 8|19 pages

Devolution and devolution plus

Anti-foundationalist foundations for constitutionalism

chapter 10|12 pages

The autonomy of Aceh

chapter 11|16 pages

Sometimes guns are the answer

The path to autonomy in Tibet, Burma and South Sudan

chapter 12|14 pages

Territorial autonomy in India

chapter 13|17 pages

Is Malaysian federalism a good example or a warning for solving the China/Tibet issue?

A brief inquiry into a half-century experiment in asymmetric federalism

chapter |31 pages

Concluding observations

One country, three systems: The Tibetan quest for genuine autonomy between European experiences and Asian perspectives