(iPoster) Who Speaks for Ethnic Minorities? Evidence from China’s Provincial Congresses

• In Event: Poster Sessions: Political Science Education & Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Race, Ethnicity, and Politics in an International Perspective

Abstract

Do ethnic minority representatives in authoritarian legislatures engage in substantive representation, or does descriptive inclusion remain largely symbolic? This study examines whether ethnic minority delegates in China’s Congresses translate descriptive representation into advocacy for minority group interests. Drawing on an original dataset of proposals submitted between 2016 and 2024 across seven provincial congresses, I analyze how delegate ethnicity, place of residence, and cultural resilience shape legislative behavior under authoritarian constraints. I argue that ethnic consciousness which is shaped by residence in ethnically concentrated areas and the resilience of ethnic culture impacts minority delegates’ willingness to advance ethnic-related policy proposals. Empirically, I find that ethnic minority delegates are more likely than their Han counterparts to submit proposals addressing ethnic economic development and cultural preservation, particularly when they reside in autonomous areas or belong to groups with unique ethnic traditional culture. By shifting attention from the national to the subnational level, this study contributes to theories of representation in authoritarian regimes and demonstrates how limited institutional space can still produce meaningful variation in substantive representation.

Author

• Unregistered Participant