This thesis reviews the anthropological approaches to the study of the ethnic minorities in Southwest China. It sets out to demonstrate the limitations engendered by studies focusing on the process of ethnicity and the relative absence of 'ordinary local peasants' (villagers not involved in the dialogue of ethnicity) in anthropological research of villages in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. Furthermore, this paper reveals the need for in-depth local studies in order to understand the impact of ethnic tourism on local identity construction.

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