Paper Summary:

The paper examines the beginnings of relations between Tibet and China and how China eventually came to associate control over Tibet with its strength as a nation and as a symbol of its resistance to Western imperialism. The paper describes Tibet's cultural identity and how it clashes with Communist China. The paper looks at how international support for a free Tibet has wavered throughout the years, but predicts that now, as greater international attention and celebrity support has highlighted Tibet's plight, Chinese control seems to be less secure.

From the Paper:

"Although signs that proclaim 'Free Tibet' are popular on college campuses across the nation, many individuals who hang these likely have little idea what freeing Tibet really means. China's hosting of the Olympics during the summer of 2008 turned the international focus briefly to the issue when pro-independence protesters dotted the road of the torchbearers making their way to Beijing. Even many liberal Chinese were outraged at the sight, as they consider Tibet a part of the Chinese nation, while most of Tibet regards itself as a unique nation-state and a captive of the Republic of China. For human rights activists, the distinct monastic culture and tradition of Tibet are a powerful argument for the need to 'Free Tibet,' in the words of the slogan."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Goldstein, Melvyn C. & Gelek Rimpoche. A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State. Berkley: University of California Press, 1991
• Thurman, Robert. No Faith in the State. Free Tibet. December 14, 2008.http://www.freetibet.org/files/NoFaithFINAL.pdf
• Waley-Cohen, Joanna. The Sextants of Beijing. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000.

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