Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Who will succeed the Dalai Lama? As the 14th Dalai Lama turns 90, the world faces a critical question: who will take over and how will they be appointed? For Tibetans, the Dalai Lama is more than a religious leader—he is the living embodiment of their national identity and struggle for autonomy. But his succession is now the centre of a major political and spiritual conflict between the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Chinese Communist Party. With China insisting it has the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama, and Tibetan exiles determined to maintain traditional practices, the risk of two rival Dalai Lamas looms large—one chosen by Beijing, the other by Tibetan lamas in exile.
This video explores the historic and spiritual importance of the Dalai Lama, the geopolitics surrounding Tibet, and how Chinese control has reshaped religious life across the region. We look at Tibet’s geography and demographics, its deep Buddhist heritage, the role of the Panchen Lama, and how the exile of the 14th Dalai Lama transformed Tibet’s future. With tensions rising and no resolution in sight, the battle over the next Dalai Lama could define not only the future of Tibetan Buddhism but also the wider struggle between cultural preservation and authoritarian control in the 21st century.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:53 - Leadership and National Identity: The Case of Tibet
01:53 - Tibet: Location, Population and Religion
02:57 - The Emergence of Tibet and the Dalai Lama
04:18 - China’s Role in Tibet
05:45 - Tibet Comes Under China’s Rule
07:31 - Tibet Under Chinese Rule
08:43 - The Case of the Disappeared Panchen Lama
09:20 - The Dalai Lama and the Campaign for Tibetan Autonomy
10:26 - How Will The Next Dalai Lama Be Chosen?
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*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Tibet #China #DalaiLama
Who will succeed the Dalai Lama? As the 14th Dalai Lama turns 90, the world faces a critical question: who will take over and how will they be appointed? For Tibetans, the Dalai Lama is more than a religious leader—he is the living embodiment of their national identity and struggle for autonomy. But his succession is now the centre of a major political and spiritual conflict between the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Chinese Communist Party. With China insisting it has the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama, and Tibetan exiles determined to maintain traditional practices, the risk of two rival Dalai Lamas looms large—one chosen by Beijing, the other by Tibetan lamas in exile.
This video explores the historic and spiritual importance of the Dalai Lama, the geopolitics surrounding Tibet, and how Chinese control has reshaped religious life across the region. We look at Tibet’s geography and demographics, its deep Buddhist heritage, the role of the Panchen Lama, and how the exile of the 14th Dalai Lama transformed Tibet’s future. With tensions rising and no resolution in sight, the battle over the next Dalai Lama could define not only the future of Tibetan Buddhism but also the wider struggle between cultural preservation and authoritarian control in the 21st century.
*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:53 - Leadership and National Identity: The Case of Tibet
01:53 - Tibet: Location, Population and Religion
02:57 - The Emergence of Tibet and the Dalai Lama
04:18 - China’s Role in Tibet
05:45 - Tibet Comes Under China’s Rule
07:31 - Tibet Under Chinese Rule
08:43 - The Case of the Disappeared Panchen Lama
09:20 - The Dalai Lama and the Campaign for Tibetan Autonomy
10:26 - How Will The Next Dalai Lama Be Chosen?
*SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS*
If you enjoy the channel and would like to support independent analysis of international relations, conflict, and security, there are several ways you can help:
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
youtube.com/channel/UCEszqJb1FjYisBevHBIof3g
youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay?sub_confirmation=1
JOIN THE COMMUNITY AND BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER
YouTube: youtube.com/c/JamesKerLindsay/join
Patreon: patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay
*MY LATEST BOOK!*
Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know
Oxford University Press global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049
Amazon amzn.to/2MPY3W2
Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel at no additional cost to you.
#Tibet #China #DalaiLama
