The National Security Implication of Social Governance in Ethnic Minority Areas in the New Era and Its Promotion

Xiao Fuqun, Zhou Yu

DOI：10.3969/j.issn. 1674-9391. 2023.03.011

Abstract：

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China （CPC）， Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Social governance， as an important part of resolving contradictions among the people and promoting steady social development has been given due recognition. The Central Committee of the CPC continuously enriches the connotation of social governance and enhances its functional positioning. Social governance has evolved from a fundamental positioning for promoting the construction of a harmonious society to an important mechanism for promoting social harmony and stimulating vitality proposed in the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. In the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China， social governance has further been elevated to a grassroots foundation for maintaining social stability and national security.

Against the backdrop of deepening the connotation of social governance， the unique natural and geographical location and sociocultural customs of ethnic minority areas have further highlighted the importance of social governance in these areas for national security. Firstly， findings reveal the development situation in ethnic areas is weak， suffering from frequent natural disasters， low levels of social infrastructure construction， and insufficient development momentum; secondly， the reality of multi-ethnic coexistence has diversified the ethnic ecology in ethnic areas. The rich and colorful ethnic cultures and traditional customs not only reflect Chinas long and prosperous history and culture， but also may increase the possibility of ethnic conflicts; thirdly， ethnic geopolitical and religious factors are intertwined， and conflicts in ethnic areas are more complex， making social governance in ethnic areas more challenging.

Therefore，it seems obvious that in promoting social governance in ethnic minority regions from the perspective of national security， it is deemed necessary to focus on improving governance efficiency. In this context， social governance in ethnic minority areas appears to have important national security implications： Firstly， in order to pursue comprehensive and free human development， ensuring the full exercise of various economic and political rights is to be the theoretical basis for the integration of social governance and national security in ethnic minority regions; secondly， in response to the inherent tension of social development， this study concludes that achieving social stability and development is the practical logic for social governance in ethnic minority areas， providing a grassroots foundation for national security; finally， in order to meet the practical requirements of constructing a new era of social solidarity mechanisms and building a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation， it is expected to also further promote a close integration and mutual accommodation of social governance and national security in ethnic minority areas.

In summary， from the perspective of national security， the promotion of social governance in ethnic regions should first attach importance to promoting the “Fengqiao Experience” of the new era with rich ethnic characteristics， fully leveraging the enthusiasm of unique social organizations and the peoples in ethnic areas， and improve the effectiveness of grassroots governance; secondly， the modernization of urban social governance in ethnic minority areas should be promoted， a three-dimensional and efficient social governance system be built; the third conclusion is to promote mutual exchange and embeddedness of all ethnic groups in the process of social governance， resisting external attacks and infiltration with a spirit of unity for all ethnic groups in order to achieve national security.

Key Words：

national security; social governance in ethnic areas; “Fengqiao Experience”; municipal social governance; Chinese national community consciousness