At what cost? Governing unity in Tibetan diaspora nationalism

This article examines Tibetan exile politics as a form of long-distance nationalism unfolding within a deterritorialized arena linking homelands, host states, and global solidarity networks. While diasporas are often portrayed as cohesive political actors, Tibetan exile politics have long been shaped by competing political positions, diverse actors, and contested visions of Tibet’s future. Drawing on the concept of a moral–political field, the article analyzes how unity is actively produced, maintained, and regulated within diaspora movements. The analysis focuses on three major lines of contestation within Tibetan exile politics: disputes over political goals, conflicts surrounding party formation in exile, and debates over the legitimate means of resistance. The findings show that pluralism within the Tibetan diaspora is regulated through boundary-drawing practices that distinguish legitimate from illegitimate forms of dissent and define acceptable political imaginaries. Under conditions of geopolitical asymmetry and dependence on external recognition, cohesion becomes both a strategic necessity and a governing principle. While moral authority—particularly that of the Dalai Lama—has enabled extraordinary unity and international visibility, it has also entailed costs by encouraging self-imposed constraints on the public articulation of political disagreement. By foregrounding unity as an ongoing political accomplishment, the article contributes to debates on diaspora politics, transnational nationalism, and contentious politics by demonstrating how stateless movements manage dissent through symbolic authority, reputational discipline, and institutional containment.