Time for a paradigm shift!? Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Chinese overseas social organization

What to expect Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

1800s: Southeast Asia / North America / Australia Guangdong, Fujian etc. Coolie trade, sojourners, hostile environments Segmentary structure, hierarchical inclusion along lineage, native place, dialect etc. Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Chinatown

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

1980s: Europe, North America Fujian, Zhejiang Traditional organizational principles distorted/destroyed Connections to Chinese officialdom replace kinship and dialect ties Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Guanxi

1990s: Europe Growing diversity and complexity; exclusive informal networks (strong local identities) Disjointed nature of Chinese community; low level of solidarity, (country specific) Later: low regulatory thresholds, personal incentives Multitude of associations; lack of legitimation and representativeness Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Diversity

2000s: Europe Community building over large geographical distances Deterritorialized understanding of transnational networks Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Transnationalism

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Networked economic communities? Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Chinese in Africa

Networked economic communities? Lack of social cohesion! Intra-Chinese competition! Neither shared identity nor community! Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Chinese in Africa

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Henantown Dakar Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Henantown Dakar Low entry barriers, small market and trade volume C hina H enan I nternational CO operation Group Co. Ltd. and chain migration Dominance of Henan petty traders Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Clustered isolation in Accra Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Clustered isolation in Accra High entry barriers, large market and trade volumes SOE representatives, Taiwanese Pioneers crowded out by Zhejiang traders, specialization in trading Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Ghana Chinese Business Association: business elites, investments beyond trade Ethnic golfing network Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Ghana Chinese Business Association: business elites, investments beyond trade Ethnic golfing network Association des Chinois Résidents au Sénégal: sponsored by embassy, no legitimation, one-man show Independent association: failed due to disagreement on CSR, sub-ethnic conflict Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Henan Chinese: Mistrust, competition, selfishness discredited potential leaders Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Henan Chinese: Mistrust, competition, selfishness discredited potential leaders Fujian, Zhejiang Chinese: No socializing beyond family enterprises Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Henan Chinese: Mistrust, competition, selfishness discredited potential leaders Fujian, Zhejiang Chinese: No socializing beyond family enterprises Others: Numbers too small; too dispersed Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Early emigration New Chinese migration Chinese in Africa Senegal Ghana Pan-Chinese associations Native place ties It‘s the family…Zhejiang transnationalists Fujian conglomerates Henan pyramid system Individualism on the rise Discussion

Early emigration Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian: lineage and clan Long distance participation: Technologies underdeveloped, mediated by institutions Problematic: no studies on initial phases of social formation Discussion Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany

Europe s Zhejiang, Fujian: Primacy of connections with dominating state sector Revival of kinship based practices due to privatization of economy and welfare Social organisation depending on place characteristics Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Discussion

New destinations since early 2000s Zhejiang, Fujian, various regions Dominance of private economy Individualization and commodification Information revolution Markets replace social institutions Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Discussion

Situatedness of social organization: time, space, group specific Repertoire of practices: influenced by economy, society, technology New paradigm or old paradigms challenged? Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany Discussion

Thank you Karsten Giese, GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Hamburg, Germany