The transnational phase of Chinese organisational development in Australia

ABSTRACT

This article aims to contextualise the new phase of Chinese organisational development in Australia in the academic tradition of transnationalism, explore the concrete forms of transnational activities undertaken by overseas-oriented Chinese organisations in economic, socio-cultural and political domains and analyse their policy relevance for both China and Australia. It argues that while these transnational activities could be seen as deliberative attempts to cater to the policy imperatives of the People's Republic of China, they also have the potential of furthering the national interest of Australia, which looks to enhance its economic and political standing in Asia. Underlying the triadic interactions of the Chinese transmigrants is the situational representation of ‘Chineseness’ and ‘Westernness’, which allows them to achieve a strategic balance in addressing the policy objectives of Australia and China and accumulate the greatest amount of ethnic capital in the process. Though primarily driven by self-interest and surely not free from controversies and tensions, these new forms of Chinese organisational activism are gradually taken into account by policy-makers of both countries to develop policy responses in multiple areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Transnationalism
• Chinese overseas
• multiculturalism
• ethnic capital
• organisational development

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank all the interviewees who shared their ideas and experiences in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. This information is based on my interview with the Henry Pan, Founding Director of the Society.

2. In reality, the cultural logic of guanxi is mostly practised among the diasporic Chinese or in their interactions with the home country and is seldom transferred to settings where the Chinese transmigrants relate to the ‘core group’ of the host state. For one thing, display of ‘Westernness’ is a pre-condition for acceptance into the mainstream of the Western society. For another, the legal system in the West forestalls dealings based on personalised connections, and contravention in this respect will probably risk the reputation and career of all persons concerned.

3. This quotation is based on my interview with Dr Minshen Zhu in February 2013.

4. This quotation is based on my interview with an anonymous informant in March 2013.

5. The category of the Native-Place refers to organisations created based on common descent and geographical origins. It comprises traditional clan and native-place associations and new locality associations established since the late 1980s. The category of Mutual Exchange refers to organisations with an explicit aim of promoting mutual exchanges between Australia and China in a wide range of domains. By this definition, it comprises most cultural, social, economic and professional associations with an overseas focus. However, native-place organisations and transnational political organisations are put under separate categories.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ANU PhD Scholarship of the Australian National University.