:: antropologi.info ::

Chinese authorities continue using the 16th congress by the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) to spread propaganda. This is the most recent article: Overseas anthropologists: Adventure in Chinese ethnic village “eye-opening”

The congress arranged fieldtrips to what Xinhua calls “ethnic villages” nearby Kunming. Among other things the anthropologists were attending a dance presentation by the Axi minority group:

“The dance represented the essence of the Axi culture, such as primitive beliefs, songs, musical instruments, traditional costumes and religious rites.”

Anthropologist Chukiat Chaiboonsvi from Chiangwai University in Thailand said according to Xinhua that “the village’s traditional culture is “under proper protection":

It looks very likely for the village to protect the culture and pass it to the next generation. The village is a good example of achieving economic development while at the same time protecting the precious culture.

I think the Chinese government has always been trying to support and take care of ethnic minorities. It’s difficult and it takes time, but so long as the government keeps going on, it will have good results.

Anthropologist Hillary Callan from London was according to Xinhua “impressed by the way the ethnic community works together with local government for its prosperity” and says:

China is absolutely one of the most interesting parts of the world for anthropologists. I wish I could stay longer to learn in greater depth about this country.

IUAES President Luis Alberto Vargas told Xinhua that he found the work made by the Chinese government in relation to the minorities was “something to be known world over":

Many countries have the same situation as China does. That is a country having multi-nationalities. But not all countries have learned to handle this situation. The way that China is doing is just one of several possibilities. I think it has to be known to the world because it’s getting good results.

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UPDATE: Even more from Xinhua (incl video): Minority culture exhibition described as enchanting and World listens to Chinese voice as Kunming declaration approved

Similar Xinhua articles exist in other languages like French and German. The congress has so far not been covered by other media.

UPDATE: Some impressions by a participant of the conference at Culture Matters: Anthropologists and the Politburo: Ali Adolf Wu writes that “while the Chinese government used this event to boost the standing of its ethnic policy after the events in Xinjiang in Tibet, anthropologists in China may have benefited from this extra attention.” He finds Petr Skalnik’s boycott of the conference very naive.

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Chinese media propaganda at IUAES anthropology conference in Kunming

Anthropology in China: IUAES-conference boycott due to Uyghur massacre