Research On Administrative Division System Of Chinese National Autonomous Areas

Since the founding of People's Republic of China, the administrative division passed through a series of adjustment according to policies of party and nation in various periods, and has greatly impelled the development of socialist revolution, economic construction and reform and opening. China is a multinational country with 56 nationalities. Although the 55 minorities population of the total population is only 6%, their distribution is more than 60% of the whole national area, and national autonomous areas has rich resources and great development potential. Therefore, administrative division in national autonomous areas is an important part of that of China. After establishment of China, original Chieftain system was abolished, and according to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, national autonomous areas such as autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties were set up, which meant that great achievements were got on administrative divisions in the minority ethnic areas. However, the above-mentioned pattern of administrative divisions which mainly emphasized on regime construction, strengthening national defense and administrative management, and was formed under the long-term planned economy. After reform and opening, with the establishment of socialist market economy system, the administrative system reform has been developing towards the direction and destination to establish"small government"and"big society".First, the paper described the historical evolution of administrative division in minority areas from the Qin and Han dynasties to new China foundation. The system of administrative division from Qin and Han dynasties to the Republic of China is firstly addressed, and then the foundation of administrative division system in minority areas based on regional autonomy system is introduced.Second, the thesis analyzes the current status of administrative division system of China's five national autonomous regions, including the land area, population and general situation of administrative division, and some existing problems are also discussed.Third, with the improvement of productivity and the gradual perfection of communication, the traditional administrative division system in minority areas is facing challenges, so it is necessary and feasible both in reality and theory to innovate upon the present division system. Fourth, this paper presents the overall concepts and suggestions for the innovation of administrative division system in minority areas, which take the unification of motherland, national unity, advancing the economic development and protecting environment in ethnic autonomous areas, as their starting points.