Roland Boer

Australia
 

Distinguished Professor of the School of Philosophy of Renmin University of China

 

This presentation will deal with three themes that have a bearing on the preferential policies for minority nationalities in socialist countries such as China. The minority nationality in question is the Tibetan nationality. In this case, the three themes are necessarily inter-connected. First, rule of law, or governing the country according to law, is very important since it sets the framework for how governance functions. Second, whole process people’s democracy is a substantive democracy that involves everyone in the process of formulating decisions. Third, the core human right is the right of freedom from exploitation, which is especially important in China’s Tibet. More positively, it means the right to socio-economic well-being, which is the core human right on which all other rights depend. In light of these three themes – rule of law, people’s democracy, and the right to socio-economic well-being – we can confidently say that China’s Tibet has flourished as never before.