Abstract
The origin, formation, and strengthening of Uyghur modern identity and nationalism in the twentieth century have strong roots in the historical, political, social-economic, and cultural processes of the Uyghur homeland (or Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, as known by China, who always had demographic dominance). In the formation and strengthening of Uyghur nationalism, interior and exterior factors (especially the Soviet Union) played a significant role in its political, ideological, and national strategy and its state interest provided a national delimitation policy in Central Asia. Uyghur nationalism in the twentieth century has characteristics of state and cultural nationalism, but it never took any ideological characteristics of chauvinism or racism. Uyghur nationalism always supported and called on the unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups, not only Turkic and non-Turkic, but also Muslim and non-Muslim, who were a major population of the province.
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Stanley Toops (2004) Demographics and Development in Xinjiang after 1949, East-West Center Washington Working Papers. No. 1. Washington, DC. p. 1.
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Yang Zengxin (1867–1928) was a Han Chinese warlord and ruler of Xinjiang province after the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 until his assassination in 1928. Yang came to power after he defeated the revolutionaries who caused the last Qing dynasty governor, Yuan Dahua, to flee during the Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang. His rule was recognized by Yuan Shikai, President of the Chinese Republic and later the Nationalist Government in Nanjing .
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Muhammed Emin Bughra (1997) p. 468.
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Abdukerim Abbasof (1948) ‘Xelq Azadliq Urushi we Shinjangdiki Milliy Mesile’ (People’s Liberation War and National Issue in Xinjiang). Printed in Shinjang üch wilayet Inqilabi Rehberlirining J K P Merkiziy Komitétigha Yollighan Doklati we Maqaliliridin Tallanmilar (Selections of Articles of Leaders of Xinjiang Three District Revolution and their reports to Center of Chinese Communist Party ). 1997. Shinjang Xelq Neshiriyati. p. 166.
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Ibid. p. 166. nationalists, but not narrow nationalists; they strongly criticized narrow nationalism
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Tursun, N. (2018). Factors and Challenges of Uyghur Nationalism in the Early Twentieth Century. In: Kurmangaliyeva Ercilasun, G., Ercilasun, K. (eds) The Uyghur Community. Politics and History in Central Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52297-9_3
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