Uyghur Movement

In 742, a predominantly Turko-Mongolian steppe nomadic tribe known today as the Uyghurs migrated eastward from eastern Turkey towards the oases of modern-day Xinjiang province of China; they have remained there for the last 1,268 years. Throughout this time, this population has endured the hardships of political, economic, cultural, ethnic, and religious persecution ranging from nomadic tribal disputes to unrelenting and brutal aggression from the Chinese government. The purpose of this monograph is to analyze the impacts of Chinese persecution on the Uyghur population in order to determine the potential Chinese policy provides for Al Qaeda-like terrorist organizations to influence, or establish a foothold within, Xinjiang. By analyzing previous Uyghur uprisings and current Chinese policy using the models of insurgency as prescribed by David Galula and Bard E. O'Neill, this monograph seeks to test the author's hypotheses: Chinese persecution of the Uyghur population will create a Uyghur insurgency; and focused persecution is providing the means for establishment of regional ties to external global ideological organizations like Al Qaeda. This monograph concludes that the current U.S. led global war on terrorism has provided China with the requisite freedom to act against the Uyghurs without repercussion and has enabled the emergence of Al Qaeda and its satellite organizations in Central Asia, therefore providing a direct link between this organization and radicalized Uyghur youth.