Transnationalism and the Internet : the case of London-based Chinese professionals
This thesis examines the role of internet use in migrantsâ participation in, and articulation of, rising Chinese modernity. It explores the ways in which transnational subjectivity is produced through this process. It investigates how migrantsâ various uses of the internet construct and make sense of their connections with China. It demonstrates a new generation of subjectivity among Chinese transnationals that is tech-savvy, modern and triumphal â a subjectivity embedded in the exchange between the (macro) political economy of Chinaâs rise and the (micro) everyday practices surrounding the internet. This is an ethnographic study focusing on an emerging population within the broader Chinese diaspora; that is, mainland Chinese professionals who migrated for higher education and professional training in recent years as a result of Chinaâs reform and economic power. This study locates its enquiries in three offline-grounded institutions â ethnic organisations, states and families. These institutions pre-date the internet but increasingly turn to the technology for transnational and local connections. Regarding Chinese organisations, utilising the internet to build co-ethnic sociality is read as a
Kang, Ting-Yu
Ethnic minorities and ethnicity ; Internet and everyday life ; Global ; Geography ; Internet research ; Sociology ; migration ; China ; transnationalism ; Internet
Transnationalism and the Internet : the case of London-based Chinese professionals. This thesis examines the role of internet use in migrantsâ participation in, and articulation of, rising Chinese modernity. It explores the ways in which transnational subjectivity is produced through this process. It investigates how migrantsâ various uses of the internet construct and make sense of their connections with China. It demonstrates a new generation of subjectivity among Chinese transnationals that is tech-savvy, modern and triumphal â a subjectivity embedded in the exchange between the (macro) political economy of Chinaâs rise and the (micro) everyday practices surrounding the internet. This is an ethnographic study focusing on an emerging population within the broader Chinese diaspora; that is, mainland Chinese professionals who migrated for higher education and professional training in recent years as a result of Chinaâs reform and economic power. This study locates its enquiries in three offline-grounded institutions â ethnic organisations, states and families. These institutions pre-date the internet but increasingly turn to the technology for transnational and local connections. Regarding Chinese organisations, utilising the internet to build co-ethnic sociality is read as a
internet case london based chinese professional examines_role internet use migrant participation articulation rise chinese modernity explores_way transnational subjectivity produce process investigates migrant various internet construct make_sense connection china demonstrate new generation subjectivity among chinese modern triumphal subjectivity embed exchange macro political_economy china rise micro everyday_practice surround internet ethnographic_study focus emerge population within_broad chinese diaspora mainland chinese professional migrate high_education professional training recent year china reform economic_power study locate enquiry offline grounded institution ethnic organisation state family institution pre date internet increasingly turn technology transnational local connection regarding chinese organisation utilise internet build ethnic sociality read