Negotiations in the Diaspora: Diagnosing Tibetan Exile Politics By Tenzin Tashi Tseten Submitted to Central European University Department of International Relations and European Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in International Relations and European Studies Supervisor: Professor Erin Jenne Word Count: 13017 CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2015 ABSTRACT This thesis seeks to situate the issues regarding the Tibetan sovereignty question and Tibetan diaspora mobilization within the wider debate of ethnic bargaining and Diaspora politics to get the bigger picture of what factors influence the changes and negotiations that occur within the Tibetan Diaspora. In order to get a clear picture and allow for ease of analysis, the case study would be divided based on time focusing on the three main time periods where demands and mobilization capacity of the Tibetan diaspora varied greatly, showing that the former is driven by the latter and further speculates on the conditions under which the diaspora can and can not influence the minority. Identifying root causes of relative Tibetan mobilization in each time period allows for a greater understanding of the factors that influenced shifts in Tibetan mobilization against the Chinese state. Finally, concluding remarks with policy advice to the Central Tibetan Administration and other major actors with the diaspora will be presented based on the findings. CEU eTD Collection i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for my supervisor Professor Erin Jenne without whose guidance I would have never been able to complete this thesis. In addition, I would like to thank my family and my colleagues for supporting me through this journey. CEU eTD Collection ii List of Abbreviations TGIE – Tibetan Government in Exile CTA – The Central Tibetan Administration PRC- People’s Republic of China PLA – People’s Liberation Army CCP – Chinese Communist Party RTYC- Regional Tibetan Youth Congress SFT - Students’ for a Free Tibet CEU eTD Collection iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for my supervisor Professor Erin Jenne without whose guidance I would have never been able to complete this thesis. In addition, I would like to thank my family and my colleagues for supporting me through this journey. CEU eTD Collection iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1The Research Puzzle ......................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Research Question ........................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Tibet In Context of this Thesis......................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Explaining Tibetan Demands ................................................................................... 9 2. 1 Plan of thesis ................................................................................................................. 12 Chapter 3 Research Design and Case Justification .................................................................. 14 3.1 Argument ....................................................................................................................... 14 3. 2 Research Design/Methods ............................................................................................ 15 3.3 Limitations ..................................................................................................................... 16 3. 4 Justification of Case selection ....................................................................................... 17 Chapter 4: Background ............................................................................................................ 19 4.1 The Tibetan Sovereignty Debate ................................................................................... 19 4.2 The Tibetan Diaspora ..................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 5: First Period since 1959: Following Independence ................................................. 22 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 22 5.2 The Role of the Dalai Lama ........................................................................................... 23 CEU eTD Collection 5.3 Negotiations In Exile ..................................................................................................... 26 Chapter 6: Second Period: Shift in Policy towards a Middle Way .......................................... 30 v 6.1 Introduction: ................................................................................................................... 30 6.2 Emergence of the Middle Way ...................................................................................... 31 6.3 Reactions to the Middle Way Approach ........................................................................ 33 Chapter 7: Third period: continued minority resistance against the effects of outside lobby actor .................................................................................................................................................. 36 7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 36 7.2 Devolution of the Dalai Lama’s Political Power ........................................................... 37 7.3 New Prime Minister and Continued Resistance ............................................................ 39 Chapter 8: Conclusion.............................................................................................................. 42 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................ 44 CEU eTD Collection vi Chapter 1 Introduction After a failed uprising against the People’s Liberation Army in 1959, The Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans fled to India and established a Tibetan government in Exile, now known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)1 Throughout the years the Administration has shifted its policies from seeking to restore complete independence in Tibet to that of seeking “genuine autonomy” within the People’s Republic of China’s framework through non- violent means with an emphasis on dialogue. This switch to a pursuit of autonomy rather than independence by the government in exile serves as a dividing line within the wider Tibetan Diaspora and especially the younger educated generation around the world who are mobilizing and holding on to their Tibetan identities through their political activities within vocal groups such as the Students for a Free Tibet and the Tibetan Youth Congress. To be Tibetan is to be part of a community of sentiment in which the experience of exile is geared toward the eventual recovery of the homeland.”2 For the Tibetan Diaspora in India and elsewhere the hope of “returning” to the homeland and the struggle for establishing an independent Tibet has been the uniting force and the basis for Tibetan identity. Despite this, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in Exile have gradually shifted its goals and policies from restoring full independence in Tibet to that of a Middle Way Approach. This ambiguous approach that is heavily pushed forth by the exile leadership claims to be seeking CEU eTD Collection 1 Throughout this thesis, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE) would be used interchangeably. Even though the official name of the Tibetan leadership in Exile is the CTA, it is set up as the Government In Exile and is structured with formal government-like institutions. 2 Yeh, Emily T. "Exile Meets Homeland: Politics, Performance, and Authenticity in the Tibetan Diaspora." Environment and Planning D: Society and Space Environ. Plann. D 25 (2007): 648-67. Accessed May 4, 2015. 1 "genuine autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People's Republic of China". On the other side stand those vocal and mobilized activists and political groups with networks throughout the Diaspora communities in India and the West and even with underground activist communities in occupied Tibet who fiercely resent Chinese occupation and organize in the name of Rangzen (Independence). Though strong proponents of both side lay on opposite ends of the spectrum much of the population in the Diaspora community lie somewhat in a midst of confusion between the two sides unable to decide or even understand what is the best solution, goal or policy that the exile community needs to adopt This research on the Tibetan Diaspora and the existential challenges being faced by this community is an issue that is currently at the heart of discussions- a hot topic within the Tibetan Diaspora community. If one keeps up on Tibetan political discussions on social media and within the Tibetan community, the concerns and the importance of understanding this issue of Middle Way Approach versus Independence is the major topic being addressed