Customer Reviews

Under the Heel of the Dragon: Islam, Racism, Crime, and the Uighur in China (Ohio RIS Global Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One strange thing about this book is that the author had such a difficult time finding a mosque in Shanghai while living there. I found the Xiaotaoyuan Mosque one afternoon while just walking around during a two-day stopover. Others can be found here: [...].

On Kaltman's methodology: He claims to have conducted an ethnography. The fact is that most credible ethnography is marked by long-term personal involvement with those being studied. Kaltman conducted research over a period of less than a year at four sites. This would put him at 3 months per site which doesn't quite meet the criterion of length. He repeatedly characterizes his interviews as "in-depth" but they seem to be more like casual one-off conversations. He talks with people on the street; there is no evidence of trust - the type of trust that builds relationships and leads to meaningful conversations and analysis.

On Kaltman's conclusions: His advocacy of Mandarin-language assimilation made me shiver. To that I say, shame on you Blaine Kaltman. I admit that I am biased because I am a proponent of linguistic diversity. But I feel that Kaltman is somewhat blinded by the merits he associates with the eradication of the Uyghur language. I find it strange that Kaltman says that a number of the Uyghurs he met were proponents of the removal of the Uyghur language from the regional system of education. I spent a year and a half in the Uyghur region and I didn't meet a single Uyghur who advocated for Mandarin language assimilation. All the Uyghurs I know are upset that their language is losing ground to Mandarin in the regional system of education.

It pains me to give a one star rating to a novice researcher but I found Kaltman's conclusions unconscionable and appalling.

Kaltman provides a comprehensive discussion of Uyghur/Han perspectives but seems to have a bias toward the Han perspective. Perhaps because he speaks Mandarin not Uyghur. Also, a fundamental error throughout the book and in photo captions raises doubt as to the accuracy and intimacy the author has with the Uyghurs. He refers constantly to "goat meat", when the meat is mutton and the food either kabob or shish kabob. How could the author make such a basic error when the Uyghur are famous for their wonderful kabob? Did he not ever eat Uyghur food? Doesn't he know the difference between a goat and a sheep? Was there editorial review of the book? Also, his interviews of Uyghur professionals numbered only 8 vs.41 for Han; biasing the persective to less educated Uyghur and more educated Han. My own experience on 3 trips to Xinjiang since 2004 are significantly more positive to Uyghur than he has portrayed. Regardless, his discussion of the Uyghur people is illuminating but one should not consider the perspectives he draws as necessarily accurate.

Given the lack of access available to researchers to examine the plight of Uyghurs in China and the state of ethnic relations generally, this book is a very admirable effort. The author does a good job of letting his subjects speak their minds and I found it even handed. the interviews distill the gulf between Uyghur and Han attitudes toward eachother and reflect my experience living in Xinjiang for a year and a half. It is unfortunate how casual and unreflective racism in China is among your average citizen. Considering the ethnic riots in Urumqi last year, these misperceptions are a real and potentially dangerous social problem that deserves direct treatment.

As far as his insights, the author makes a few that are helpful in understanding the plight of Uighurs living in Xinjiang. If you want to get a Uighur's perspective on issues of Chinese gov't, relations with Hans etc this is a relatively good book to buy. HOWEVER, Kaltman writes like a giant tool. I guess I'm being nitpicky on grammar, but he continually does not use articles before writing "Uighur". For instance, he writes "...as good spoken Mandarin is a crucial factor in opening legitimate opportunities for Uighur." ARE YOU AN IDIOT KALTMAN??? ITS THE UIGHURS, OR EVEN UIGHURS, THEY'RE NOT SHEEP OR MOOSE, THERE ARE PLURAL FORMS OF UIGHUR. So, to wrap up, I hope Kaltman spends an eternity in a lake of hellfire reading things with dumb grammar mistakes for a stupid paper he has to write. I hate you Blaine Kaltman.

Scholarly work on different sects and religions in China, Interesting, well done, worth the time to read.