| 摘要: | 妥善處裡民族問題對任何一個多民族國家都是非常重要的課題，當某一少數民族遭受國家漠視、壓制或不合理對待時，往往會因為積極爭取自身的權益，小則造成民族間的矛盾、不信任，大則甚或引發暴力衝突與戰爭，造成國家動盪，甚至分崩離析。因此，如何妥善處理民族問題，避免高代價的族群衝突，是每個多民族國家不可小覷的議題。
中國自古以來即為一個多民族的國家，各民族在歷史的嬗遞過程中已建立了緊密的關係。在經過民族識別後，除主體的漢民族外，尚有55個少數民族，佔總人口數的8.49％，散居在全國各地，呈現「大散居、小聚居」的現象。中國對於少數民族的治理，一直以來均以「國家統一」為最高指導原則，實行少數民族區域自治，目前有155個民族自治地方，包括5個自治區、30個自治州、120個自治縣，自治區域面積高達全國總面積的64.3％。
中國共產黨將蘇聯的社會主義轉化為具有中國特色的社會主義，因應中國國情、當地民情與歷史沿革亦不斷的在調整民族政策。在改革開放後，各民族之間的落差日趨明顯，中國共產黨針對經濟、社會環境、政治上做了數項改善措施：在經濟方面，為解決市場經濟衍生的不均問題，採行財政補貼、稅賦優惠或推動「西部大開發」等強化民族地區經濟建設的策略；在社會環境方面，推動傳統語言文字教學、准許宗教與風俗習慣自由；而在政治方面，鼓勵民族自治，培養少數民族幹部參與自治，此外，為落實依法治國，修頒《憲法》、《民族區域自治法》，並允許各民族地區訂定自治條例與單行條例，以充實民族區域自治制度的法治根基。同時，在各少數民族聚居地方實行民族區域自治，以期建構一個團結和諧「多元一體」的格局。
本論文梳理國際當代民族自治、治理理論、社會主義民族自治理論與中山先生的民族思想和均權主義為基礎，以吉林省延邊朝鮮族自治州、雲南省大理白族自治州、湖南省湘西土家族苗族自治州為研究個案，分別從政治、經濟、文化等面向，觀察少數民族自治權實施情形，檢視中國大陸少數民族理論的形成與民族區域自治制度的實施；並探索中國大陸在1978年改革開放後由於經濟快速的發展，對少數民族的政策上產生了何種影響？民族區域自治單位經濟提升帶動的是區域發展還是民族發展，當經濟發展程度提升，對民族自治地方的發展與行政區劃產生的衝擊，進而瞭解中國大陸民族區域自治制度究竟只是暫時性的手段，還是長期可持續發展不變的制度。
Appropriately dealing with ethnic-related problems is a very important issue for any multi-ethnic nation. When any ethnic minority suffers indifference, oppression, or unreasonable treatment by its government, it will often come into contention with itself over its own rights. In the small picture, this may cause disagreements and loss of trust within that ethnic group. In the larger picture, this may cause violence and war, turbulence and strife, or even complete disintegration or breakup of a nation. Therefore, the question of how to address ethnic-related problems, and how to avoid costly ethnic conflicts, is an important issue for every multi-ethnic nation.
China has been a multi-ethnic nation ever since ancient times. The ethnicities of China have undergone many changes since that time to form a very tightly-knit relationship within the nation. If we exclude the Han Chinese—being ethnically the majority of China—there are 55 ethnic minorities in China, who live scattered over China’s expanses in small communities and together represent 8.49% of the nation’s total population. China has allowed very few of these ethnic minorities autonomous control, a decision which is in line with the “unification” policy it uses as the basis for its management of these minorities. As of today, there are 155 ethnically autonomous areas: 5 autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 120 autonomous counties. The total area encompassed by autonomous areas counts for 64.3% of China’s total land area.
The Communist Party of China tailored Soviet Union socialism to fit the Chinese mindset; they then used their new governing system to deal with specific national problems and to respond to both public sentiment and the course of history. Since that time, China has continued to reform ethnic policy. After the Chinese Economic Reforms of the late seventies, the development gap between the various ethnic minorities was becoming more prominent by the day, and so the communist government invoked various measures to improve the economy, social conditions, and governance for these peoples. To level imbalances derived from the market economy, the government gave financial subsidies, tax relief, and promoted development in Western China. These measures were intended to strengthen the economies and infrastructures of ethnic regions. The government also promoted traditional education in language and letters, and allowed for freedom in religion and folk customs in efforts to improve ethnic social conditions. Last, in terms of governance, China promoted autonomous governance among ethnic minorities and encouraged ethnic leaders to become involved. In addition, the government implemented rule of law, revised the nation’s old constitution to become the “Constitution of the People's Republic of China,” and promulgated the “Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy.” The Chinese government also encouraged the autonomous areas to set their own regulations for use as a basis of autonomous governance. They set up autonomous areas for each ethnic minority in hopes of realizing their dream of a harmonious nation, diverse, but unified.
The basis of the argument in this study will be founded on modern international ethnic autonomy, theories of governance, and socialist theories of ethnic minority governance, as well as Sun Yat-sen’s thoughts on ethnicity and his maxim of balance of power. I will incorporate the following specific instances in my case study: the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, and the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province. I will be analyzing these autonomous areas in terms of government, economy, and culture, and observing the conditions of governance within these ethnic communities. This will allow me to survey the formation of ethnic minority theories in China, as well as the self-governance systems used in these autonomous areas. This will also allow me to see what kind of influence China was able to exert on ethic minorities after the rapid economic expansion due to Chinese economic reform. Finally, my research will be able to discern whether the economic improvement for these areas has been an improvement for the region or for the people of the region, as when the areas’ economies improve, the impact would be felt in the development and administration of these autonomous areas. These answers will help us to understand if autonomous control by ethnic minorities in China is a temporary fix to a temporary problem, or a long-term system that will continue to develop. |
