ABSTRACT
Most contemporary scholars have argued that the situation in Tibet is a case of separatist ethnic nationalism and the fight for self-determination against Chinese rule by Tibetans. Nationalism has become structurally embedded in societies across the world as the basis of the modern state. Tibetans have had to use the language of nationalism to fight against Chinese occupation. The Tibetan Buddhist monks have led demonstrations in the 1980s against Chinese rule, and this very clearly shows that religious nationalism was and still is a dominant force in Tibet. Religious identity and religious nationalism have most certainly played a central role in preventing Tibet from getting fully integrated into China proper or mainland China. In relation to ethnic religious nationalism, the monasteries as centres of resistance to Chinese rule deserve special mention. The discourse on Tibetan nationalism has had better luck with the Diaspora community and the Tibetan government in exile in India.
