Racial Minorities: Asia

Some Asian countries, such as China, India, and Japan, have been hailed as economic success stories. The social and historical trajectory behind their success, however, is very complex. Economic development in some regions has been often buttressed by sometimes oppressive political state practices countered by opposing political movements. Many of these involve minority groups fighting for self-determination and the right to flourish. The history of colonial occupation in Asia has played an important role in shaping ancient and contemporary racial and ethnic minorities and, in some cases, caste systems as well.

The continent of Asia is the largest and most populous in the world. It is generally divided into five regions, although several countries are not clearly included into one single region. Mongolia, for example, is ...