A voice for the voiceless: online social activism in Uyghur language blogs and state control of the Internet in China

Abstract

Much has been written in recent years about Chinese online activism. Although in China Internet use is officially regulated and censored, China nevertheless has the world's largest number of Internet users, with blogs being the largest communication platform. However, most of the research on Chinese use of social media to date has focused specifically on Chinese language Internet sources, with little attention paid to online activity among any of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minority groups, such as the Uyghurs. Uyghurs are an ethnic group native to China's northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. They speak Uyghur language natively, a Turkic language that utilizes an Arabic script, and most are Moslems. As the largest ethnic group within a region of China noted as among China's most politically sensitive, the Uyghurs provide a rich source for study of the use of the Internet by a potentially contentious group. This research thus seeks to fill a gap in the literature by addressing the question: In what ways do Uyghurs utilize social media as a form of online activism? The findings show that in Uyghur blogs, comments are often posted using veiled language such as metaphors, sarcasm, and humor, or references to traditional Uyghur sayings and culture practices as a means of expressing subversive political communication, in an indirect way.

Keywords:

• China
• social media
• online social activism
• Uyghur
• Xinjiang

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Corrigendum

Notes on contributors

Rebecca A. Clothey is an assistant professor of Education at Drexel University, Philadelphia. Her research interests include issues of ethnicity, equity and access, public policy and community activism, online social activism, and international higher education policy. Prior to moving to Philadelphia, Dr Clothey lived in China for five years where she was based at various higher education institutions throughout the country. She speaks Mandarin and has a working knowledge of Uyghur, a Turkic language spoken in China’s northwest region of Xinjiang where her most recent research has been focused. [email: [email protected]]

Emmanuel F. Koku is Associate Professor of Sociology at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He holds a B.A. (Hons) in Sociology from University of Ghana, Legon; an M.A. in Sociology from Queen's University, Canada, and a Ph.D in Sociology from the University of Toronto, Canada. Dr Koku's research interests are in the social networks, sexual health behaviors, new media use, and knowledge/learning networks. His current research examines socio-demographic determinants of HIV risk in Africa, the lived experiences of persons living with HIV in Africa and USA, as well as professional and informal networks of academic researchers and policy-makers. His publications have appeared in a number of peer-reviewed journals including American Behavioral Scientist, T he Global South, Sociological Research Online, Journal of Community Health, and Sexual Health. [email: [email protected]]

Erfan Erkin is from Kashgar; he is a native Uyghur. He is working as a research assistant at Drexel University. [email: [email protected]]

Husenjan Emat is from Atush; he is a native Uyghur. He goes to school at Temple University and works as a research assistant at Drexel University. [email: [email protected]]