Abstract
This paper examines the interplay between the Marxist-Leninist ideology of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) and governance of the Tibetan Plateau, focusing on its environmental, political, and geopolitical consequences. The CCP's Marxist-Leninist approach, as socialism with Chinese characteristics, prioritizes party survival and control, resulting in opaque policy processes and a lack of transparency. This governance model has led to significant environmental degradation, including accelerated glacial melt, ecosystem disruption, and water resource destabilization, with implications for millions downstream.
The CCP’s policies in Tibet are not limited to environmental impacts; they also extend to cultural and political repression, contributing to long-term cultural assimilation and the erosion of Tibetan identity. The paper argues that the CCP’s governance structure inherently limits effective climate action, as state objectives prioritize development, party control, and geopolitical strategy over environmental sustainability.
Furthermore, the CCP's actions have broader geopolitical implications, including strained transboundary water relations and regional instability. Using an understanding of Chinese International Relations Theory, this research contextualizes the CCP's Tibet strategy within its global aspirations, highlighting challenges to multilateral environmental efforts. The paper concludes with recommendations for integrating Tibetan voices into international climate discussions while addressing the systemic limitations imposed by CCP governance.
The CCP’s policies in Tibet are not limited to environmental impacts; they also extend to cultural and political repression, contributing to long-term cultural assimilation and the erosion of Tibetan identity. The paper argues that the CCP’s governance structure inherently limits effective climate action, as state objectives prioritize development, party control, and geopolitical strategy over environmental sustainability.
Furthermore, the CCP's actions have broader geopolitical implications, including strained transboundary water relations and regional instability. Using an understanding of Chinese International Relations Theory, this research contextualizes the CCP's Tibet strategy within its global aspirations, highlighting challenges to multilateral environmental efforts. The paper concludes with recommendations for integrating Tibetan voices into international climate discussions while addressing the systemic limitations imposed by CCP governance.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 18 Dec 2024 |
| Event | Climate Crisis in Tibet – Part I: CCP’s Tibet Takeover: Wither Global Climate Action? (Webinar) - Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 18 Dec 2024 → 18 Dec 2024 |
Other
| Other | Climate Crisis in Tibet – Part I: CCP’s Tibet Takeover: Wither Global Climate Action? (Webinar) |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Stockholm |
| Period | 18/12/24 → 18/12/24 |
| Other | This webinar, the first in the series, seeks to address the following research questions: What is the nature and scope of the environmental degradation in the Tibetan Plateau? What is the extent and ambit of the CCP’s policies for governing Tibet that particularly impact Tibet’s environment? What are the projected objectives of the CCP vis-à-vis Tibet (e.g., development aims to end poverty)? And what is the true nature of its policy frameworks, including disinformation campaigns (e.g., via influencer management firms) and China’s persecution of Tibetan environmental activists? What has been the actual short-term and long-term impact on the Tibetan region and its people due to the CCP’s policies? How is China’s control of Tibetan territories, including religion and culture, impacting Tibet’s climatic conditions? Are the CCP’s actions, including militarization and laws, in Tibet that have repercussions on Tibet’s climate change irreversible? How can international multilateral forums, such as the IPCC, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and ICIMOD, include Tibetan voices and concerns proactively without fear of Chinese retaliation? |
