Nationalism and Hybridity in MongoliaUradyn Bulag presents a unique study of what it means to be Mongolian today. Mongolian nationalism, emerging from a Soviet-dominated past and facing a Chinese-threatened future, has led its adherents to stress purity in an effort to curb the outside influences on Mongolian culture and identity. This sort of nationalism views the Halh (the 'indigenous' Mongols) as 'pure' Mongols, and other Mongol groups as 'impure'. This Halh-centrism excites and exploits fears that Mongolia will be swallowed by China; it stands in opposition to pan-Mongolism, the view that links between Mongols of all kinds should be strengthened. Bulag draws on an abundance of illuminating research findings to argue that Mongols are facing a choice between a purist, racialized nationalism, inherited from Soviet discourses of nationalism, and a more open, adaptive nationalism which accepts diversity, hybridity, and multiculturalism. He calls into question the idea of Mongolia as a homogeneous place and people, and urges that unity should be sought through acknowledgement of diversity. |
Contents
The Creation of Ethnicity and Nationalism | 27 |
Ethnopolitics in Mongolia | 64 |
Problems of Biological Reproduction and | 104 |
The Discourse of Race in Mongolia | 135 |
Inner Mongols as Other to Mongols | 171 |
Reinitiating | 215 |
Nationalism and Hybridity | 259 |
| 274 | |
| 297 | |
Common terms and phrases
aimag animals anthropologist argued Barga Bayan Ölgii become biological Bogd Khan Buddhist Buryatia Buryats Byambasüren called cent centre century China Chinese Chinggis Khan Choibalsang clan Communist concept Congress Constitution culture Dashbalbar Dayan Khan democratic deputies dominant dung Dürbet economic emblem erliiz ethnic groups exogamy feudal flag foreign genealogy golian Greater Mongolia Halh Mongols Hamnigan Han Chinese herders homeland horse human hybridity idea identity ideology independence Inner Mongols interesting Kazakhs kinship lamas leader Manchu marriage meat mental modern Mongol groups Mongol nation Mongol Uls Mongolian nationalism Mongolian politics Mongols in Mongolia MPRP nation-state nationalist negdel nomadic non-Halh nutag obog Ochirbat Oirat Ölgii Ordos Outer Mongolia pan-Mongolism Party People's population regarded region relations revive revolution Rinchen Russian scholars script social socialist period society Soviet Union soyombo suggests süld symbols term tion tradition Tsahar Tsedenbal Tümen Turkic Ulaanbaatar ündesten urban Urianghai women yastan