"Shih's fascinating book examines the interplay of the Chinese state and ethnic groups to show a complex relationship of cultural governance and resistance. Drawing on years of fieldwork in South China, Shih charts how ethnic subjectivities take shape with state power, occasionally against it, and often alongside it."--William A. Callahan, Chair of International Politics, University of Manchester and Co-Director of the British Inter-University China Centre #xA0; "Chih-yu Shih is a pioneering figure in the study of contemporary Chinese politics.#xA0; The conceptual innovativeness and empirical richness of his writing has consistently placed his work at the cutting edge of the field.#xA0; The study of minority nationalities forwarded in this book is sure to further cement such a reputation. Professor Shih convincingly challenges much of the existing conventional wisdom about the contemporary relationship which between minorities and the contemporary Chinese state." --Allen Carlson, Associate Professor of Government, Cornell University.