An Overview of China’s Ethnic Groups and Their Interactions

Abstract

Since the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1921, the relations among China’s many ethnic groups have undergone incessant changes. This article will discuss the impact of China’s ethnic minorities on China as a whole, and additionally illuminate specific intra-ethnic relations, that is, the ways in which cultural minorities affect one another. We will explore four stages in the development of China’s intra-ethnic interactions, three historical and one anticipated stages: namely, 1) Revolutionary Stage (1921 to 1966), 2) Political Ethnic Relations (1967 to 1977), 3) Economic Interactions (1978 to early 21st century), 4) Anticipated Overcoming of Residual Biases. The background and characteristics of each developmental stage will be explained.