Kaiser, have you read "From Empire to Nation State: Ethnic Politics in China" by Yan Sun? For me, it has been the most revealing work I read in the area of Chinese ethnic policies. It contains a lot of fieldwork in Xinjiang and Tibet, and plenty of analysis of primary sources in Chinese. It has generated a strong (but civilized debate) with James Millward and James Leibold. I think it might partly answer the "ethnic question" you raise in your article. Also, I think Yan Sun herself would be great podcast material.
Kaiser, have you read "From Empire to Nation State: Ethnic Politics in China" by Yan Sun? For me, it has been the most revealing work I read in the area of Chinese ethnic policies. It contains a lot of fieldwork in Xinjiang and Tibet, and plenty of analysis of primary sources in Chinese. It has generated a strong (but civilized debate) with James Millward and James Leibold. I think it might partly answer the "ethnic question" you raise in your article. Also, I think Yan Sun herself would be great podcast material.
Great suggestion! I will reach out. I’ve not read it but will remedy that!