History As Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China [Hardcover]

Despite Chinese efforts to stop foreign countries from granting him visas, the Dalai Lama has become one of the most recognizable and best loved people on the planet, drawing enormous crowds wherever he goes. By contrast, China's charismatically-challenged leaders attract crowds of protestors waving Tibetan flags and shouting Free Tibet! whenever they visit foreign countries. By now most Westerners probably think they understand the political situation in Tibet. But, John Powers argues, most Western scholars of Tibet evince a bias in favor of one side or the other in this continuing struggle. Some of the most emotionally charged rhetoric, says Powers, is found in studies of Tibetan history. narratives.John Powersis a Reader at the Centre for Asian Studies and Histories at the Australian National University in Canberra. He is the author of numerous books, includingA Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism(2000) andIntroduction to Tibetan Buddhism(1995). History as Propagandais a fascinating study of how historical sources and events are selectively and subjectively interpreted by Chinese propagandists, Tibetan exiles, and Western scholars for the purpose of furthering diametrically opposed political claims. Powers presents well-reasoned arguments that challenge many facile assumptions about Tibets complex relationships with successive Chinese administrations. The authors critical yet balanced approach is destined to ruffle feathers on both sides of the political chasm. This is a must read for anybody who is interested in Tibets political status, and is a welcome contribution to the literature concerning nationalism, ethnicity, and historical argumentation. --Geoff Childs, author ofTibetan Diary: From Birth to Death and Beyond in a Himalayan Valley of Nepal

This is a useful, clear-headed, and profoundly discouraging account of two deeply held but completely incommensurate versions of the Tibetan past and present...l‹