The Experts below are selected from a list of 34257 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Denise M. Glover - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier [Book Review]
China Journal, 2006Co-Authors: Denise M. GloverAbstract:Publishers details for: On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier, by Ashild Kolas and Monika P. Thowsen, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2005. xii + 276 pp. US$45.00 (hardcover).
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On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier
China Journal, 2006Co-Authors: Denise M. GloverAbstract:On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier, by Ashild Kolas and Monika P. Thowsen. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2005. xii + 276 pp. US$45.00 (hardcover). On the Margins of Tibet is the latest volume in the series Studies on Ethnic Groups of China, edited by Stevan Harrell and published by University of Washington Press. It is an important addition to the series because it tackles the topic of the Tibetan culture wars, a topic that has spread, at least in the United States, beyond scholarly fields of study into American pop culture and the halls of government. Kolas and Thowsen do not align themselves with either side in the fierce debate about whether Tibetan culture is endangered or thriving in the People's Republic of China. In fact, their work shows that the central arguments presented on both sides could be said to be both true and false, perhaps to the chagrin of logicians and politicians alike. At the heart of the debate about the condition of Tibetan culture in the PRC is the question of what "culture" is. Although the viability of culture as an object of study has been heavily critiqued within the discipline of anthropology, the lead protagonists in this present debate (the Chinese state and the Tibetan government-in-exile) do not entertain such theoretical ruminations. As a result, Kolas and Thowsen explain that their aim is not to add to the anthropological debate. Rather, they set out to understand what "culture" means to its protagonists, to discuss the common ground of Cultural constructions, and systematically to examine the status of "Tibetan culture" in Tibetan areas both before and after the establishment of the PRC. What primarily count as Tibetan culture are religion and education; these topics, therefore, become the focus of the book. The logic of the research seems straightforward enough: compare the status of both religion and education before the establishment of the PRC and now (1998-2000), to see if there has been either substantial degradation or substantial improvement. If the former, then the Tibetan government-in-exile is correct in saying that Tibetan culture is endangered in its homeland. If the latter, then maybe we should believe the Chinese state's claims of having improved the conditions under which Tibetan culture can flourish. The authors make clear very early in the book that such a cut-and-dried methodology is quite difficult due to problems both of categorization and of record-keeping (past record-keeping was not always rigorous, often past records are not available, and present government statistics are notoriously unreliable). Yet, the authors argue, even with these difficulties it is worthwhile pursuing their goal. In fact, Kolas and Thowsen's work is enormously valuable in establishing a more accurate assessment of the current status of religion and education on which to base further studies. The book surveys scholarship from disciplines as different as ethnic studies in the PRC and Sino-Tibetan history. This range of scholarship may create difficulties for those not familiar with the details of Sino-Tibetan relations. The original research that Kolas and Thowsen conducted, however, is the real value of this book. Based on five months of fieldwork (interviews and observation) in 25 counties in Tibetan areas outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the authors have amassed an impressive amount of data, and they are able to breathe an amazing amount of life into the statistical information that they present. …
Ellen Bangsbo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Schooling for knowledge and Cultural Survival: Tibetan community schools in nomadic herding areas
Educational Review, 2008Co-Authors: Ellen BangsboAbstract:For children of Tibetan nomadic (drokpa) families, it is often a struggle to attend school. The long distance from home to school, irrelevance of school learning to daily life and available jobs after graduation contribute to the choice by some parents to keep their children at home for domestic work. Although some parents consider schooling in its present form a waste of time, it is nevertheless acknowledged that proficiency in Chinese and basic knowledge gained from schooling are probably essential if employment is to be sought outside the pastoral community. This case study introduces three primary community schools in the herding areas of Qinghai and Sichuan. In addition to Chinese, these schools teach Tibetan, and take traditional beliefs and Cultural values into account. It is argued that recognizing rural life in remote, high‐altitude herding areas is under transition and has made Tibetan parents more open towards schooling, in particular if their children have the possibility to attend a local com...
Monika P. Thowsen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier
2004Co-Authors: Åshild Kolås, Monika P. ThowsenAbstract:The state of Tibetan culture within contemporary China is a highly politicized topic on which reliable information is rare. But what is Tibetan culture and how should it be developed or preserved? The Chinese authorities and the Tibetans in exile present conflicting views on almost every aspect of Tibetan Cultural life. Ashild Kolas and Monika Thowsen have gathered an astounding array of data to quantify Tibetan Cultural activities--involving Tibetan language, literature, visual arts, museums, performing arts, festivals, and religion. Their study is based on fieldwork and interviews conducted in the ethnic Tibetan areas surrounding the Tibetan Autonomous Region--parts of the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan, and Qinghai. Aware of the ambiguous nature of information collected in restricted circumstances, they make every effort to present a complete and unbiased picture of Tibetan communities living on China's western frontiers. Kolas and Thowsen investigate the present conditions of Tibetan Cultural life and Cultural expression, providing a wealth of detailed information on topics such as the number of restored monasteries and nunneries and the number of monks, nuns, and tulkus (reincarnated lamas) affiliated with them; sources of funding for monastic reconstruction and financial support of clerics; types of religious ceremonies being practiced; the content of monastic and secular education; school attendance; educational curriculum and funding; the role of language in Tibetan schools; and Tibetan news and Cultural media. On the Margins of Tibet will be of interest to historians and social scientists studying modern China and Tibetan culture, and to the many others concerned about Tibet's place in the world.
Roger Plant - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the international community and land rights for indigenous and tribal peoples
Development, 1992Co-Authors: Roger PlantAbstract:The networking activities and the intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) policy on indigenous people are described in terms of their impact on protection of land rights and indigenous people. There are a range of activities the international community is involved with in relating to indigenous populations indirectly or directly. The International Labor Organization was the first and is the only international agency which had international ratifiable standards for dealing with indigenous people. The World Bank which was a leader among lenders in establishing internal guidelines for safeguarding the land rights of indigenous populations the Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank have established internal guidelines. The trend for intergovernmental agencies is to develop specific projects for the direct benefit of indigenous populations. Protection of land rights is a first step and needs to be followed with increases in productive activities and resources management and political will. The trend is also toward increased nongovernmental involvement with indigenous populations. Indigenous groups and advocacy groups for indigenous people have been formed to influence policy at the national and international levels. Some of the older more established advocacy groups are Survival International in London Cultural Survival in Boston and the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs in (WRM) in Malaysia the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Gaia Foundation in London. Human rights organizations and charitable organizations have played a role in addressing indigenous population issues. Examples are given for activities conducted by WRI Oxfam IIED the Wisconsin Land Tenure Center ODI Cultural Survival and WRM.
Joakim Enwall - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Kan tibetanerna i Kina bevara språk och kultur? : recension av Åshild Kolås a Monika P. Thowsen, On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier
2008Co-Authors: Joakim EnwallAbstract:Kan tibetanerna i Kina bevara sprak och kultur? : recension av Ashild Kolas & Monika P. Thowsen, On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier
