Rethinking integration and identity: Chinese migrants in the Republic of Ireland

ABSTRACT

Using historical narratives and a qualitative research approach, this paper analyses the social, cultural and cognitive causes of differentiation and stratification among Chinese migrants in the Republic of Ireland. It discusses individuals’ diversified capabilities, attitudes and actual levels of integration, as well as their disparate patterns of self-identification. In the research area of Chinese migrants in Ireland, in-group diversity and its implications is still a novel research topic. With this introductory work, the authors seek to draw more attention to this particular group, especially to the need for studies of encounters between subgroups and longitudinal investigations. The paper points out that subgroups of Chinese migrants in Ireland are divided according to social classification and self-categorisation, which have distinct significances for subgroup members’ integration and identity.

KEYWORDS:

• Chinese migrants
• Republic of Ireland
• integration
• identity
• in-group diversity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Zhouxiang Lu is a Lecturer in Chinese Studies in the School of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures at National University of Ireland Maynooth. His main research interests are Chinese history, nationalism and identity.

Weiyi Wu is a research fellow of the Art Institute of Nanjing University. She obtained her PhD from University College Cork, Ireland. She focuses on identity studies from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Notes

1 The term ‘migrants’ in this article refers to foreign nationals who study, work or live in Ireland.

2 In general, non-EEA nationals must have an employment permit in order to work in Ireland. Employment permits are issued by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Generally, applicants for employment permits must have a minimum annual remuneration (pay) of €30,000. All new applicants must provide evidence that a labour market needs test has been carried out. The test requires that the vacancy must have been advertised with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) employment services/EURES employment network for two weeks, in a national newspaper for at least three days and in either a local newspaper or on a jobs website for three days. This is to ensure that an EEA or Swiss national cannot be found to fill the vacancy. (General Employment Permit, http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/migrant_workers/employment_permits/work_permits.html).

3 Legally resident non-EEA nationals who have entered Ireland with the intention of residing in Ireland for a period of more than three months must register with their local immigration registration officer. An immigration certificate of registration (GNIB Registration Card) is issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to any non-EEA national who so registers. Before 2008, a fee of €100 was charged in respect of each immigration certificate of registration issued to a non-EEA national. The fee increased to €150 in 2008 and €300 in 2012. (Registration of non-EEA nationals, http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/rights_of_residence_in_ireland/registration_of_non_eea_nationals_in_ireland.html)

4 During the past decade, the one-child policy has been gradually relaxed in some provinces. The policy was abolished by the Chinese government in 2015. Urban residents are now allowed to have two children.

5 Chinese students in Ireland can be divided into two groups: ‘non-degree course students’ and ‘degree course students’. In this section, the term ‘students’ refers to degree course students. Non-degree course students also enter Ireland on a student visa. They attend private English schools and, at the same time, many take part-time jobs. During the Celtic Tiger era, some of these students rarely attended school and spent most of their time working. Some of the language schools offered to provide attendance records for visa purposes as long as the students paid their tuition fees. After the 2008 economic crisis, many non-degree course students returned to China or migrated to other countries. Others invested their savings in education and obtained college degrees from Irish universities. Some were issued work permits by the immigration office after graduation and work in both the private and public sectors. ‘Degree course students’ refers to full-time students enrolled in higher education courses. They came to Ireland to pursue college degrees, hoping to become more competitive in the job market. Computer Science, Accounting/Finance, Engineering, Science, Commerce/Business and Marketing are popular subjects.