The Connotations and Value of the Southwest Bureau’s Ethnic Work within the Framework of the Grand United Front Strategy

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1674-9391.2024.07.007

Abstract：

The Grand United Front （GUF） framework is seen as important and strategic for the Communist Party of China （CPC） to" advance its ethnic work in the new era of China. This framework seeks to embody" the essence of the CPC’s century-long experience in ethnic affairs， characterized by a" unique historical trajectory and significant" value implications." Notably， the ethnic initiatives" in Southwest China" have been serving as a critical component" of the CPC’s century-long ethnic work， particularly during the early years of the People’s Republic of China." These initiatives have lead to essential theoretical perceptions and practical experiences， driving the evolution" of ethnic work within the GUF framework. Looking back， the new era’s CPC ethnic work framework" apparently shares both continuity and evolution， particularly in relation to the strategies implemented by the Southwest Bureau" during the early years of the New China. This paper， drawing upon extensive historical records and case studies，" seeks to highlight useful experience and insight gained from the Southwest Bureau’s ethnic work framework.

Examining the Party’s ethnic work over the last century， particularly during the initial phase of New China， reveals that CPC leadership has been integral to the whole process of ethnic work." Results indicate the GUF strategy has proven to be a vital instrument for effectively addressing ethnic affairs， while the establishment of standardized and scientifically designed governance systems has shown to be essential for effective ethnic work. The Southwest Bureau arguably played a key role as both a promoter and practitioner of this ethnic work pattern，" aligning its ethnic work and governance strategies with" the Party’s centralized and unified leadership over ethnic work." Analysis further demonstrates that the Bureau’s standardized and institutionalized approach fostered the efficient execution of ethnic work through the GUF; in addition， the Southwest Bureau followed a dual approach that combines interactive engagement with deepening development in ethnic affairs and governance strategies. This conceivably not only reflects the central government’s" relevance" on ethnic work planning and implementation， but also its willingness to adapt to" the specific reality of ethnic issues in" Southwestern China to" incentivize" innovation. Therefore，" it has built a historical foundation， theoretical approach， and practical basis" for the formation and development of the" CPC’s" ethnic policy methodology in the new era.

A reflection on the Southwest Bureau’s" ethnic work from the perspective of the Party’s ethnic work pattern in the new era shows that these strategies demonstrate both historical significance and practical effectiveness. It can be furthermore" seen that the Party" has been" consistent and" accommodative in striving to grasp" ethnic issues and doing ethnic work， which" can be viewed as" a typical example of" an adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context. This paper asserts that" extracting useful experience and insight from the Southwest Bureau’s ethnic strategies for present ethnic work can not only" summarize" the CPC’s efficacious experience in ethnic work over the past century， but also" serve it as a foundational guide for promoting high-quality development of ethnic work in the new era.

Key Words：

Southwest Bureau in the New China; ethnic work pattern; ethnic affairs governance