Soc 428: Contemporary China

Lecture 24: Chinese diaspora and global influence

Yu XieThe University of Michigan

Outline

I. Continuation of the last lecture; Inequality on the Global Scale

II. Chinese Americans. III. Assimilation and Segmented

Assimilation. IV. Law and Order in China V. Environment VI. Popular culture VII. Open Discussion

Different Views of the State

China primarily sees the role of the state as economic.

It strives to protect “national (economic) interest.”

Chinese nationalism will rise, as the Chinese identify their economic well being with a strong Chinese state.

The U.S. still tries to protect its cultural interest (say democracy).

I. Chinese View of National Conflicts

National conflicts are driven by divergent economic interests, which may be disguised as cultural differences.

This interpretation is consistent with Chinese culture, Marxism, and China’s recent history.

II. Chinese Americans

The literature on Chinese Americans is imbedded in the literature on Asian Americans.

Table 1: Asian American Population: 1980, 1990, 2000

Data source: 1980, 1990, 2000. 2010 U.S. Censuses

1980 1990 2000 2010 Race/Ethnicity % % % % Asian Americans 1.44 2.78 3.93 4.75 Chinese 0.36 0.66 0.94 1.21 Japanese 0.31 0.34 0.34 0.27 Filipino 0.34 0.57 0.74 0.86 Korean 0.16 0.32 0.41 0.47 Asian Indian 0.16 0.33 0.63 0.95 Vietnamese 0.12 0.25 0.42 0.53 Other 0.36 0.98 1.39 0.46 All Persons in US 227 mil 249 mil 281 mil 309 mil

Figure 1: Growth of Asian American Populations, 1860-2000

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

Year

Pop

ulat

ion

Chinese

Japanese

Filipino

Korean

Asian Indian

Vietnam ese

Other As ian

Immigration History of Asian Americans

Beginning in 1850s, Chinese workers were imported to replace slave labor.

They were first attracted by the California gold rush (1850s) and then mobilized to build transcontinental railroads (1880s).

Chinese workers lived in mostly male communities—“bachelor societies”

Immigration Laws Restricting Asians

The Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Japanese came as farm laborers in Hawaii and

California. Japanese immigration was curtailed by the Immigration

Act of 1907 (“Gentleman’s Agreement”). In 1924, all Asians were denied immigration to the U.S. Filipinos had unique legal status and were recruited as

laborers. Filipino immigration was later restricted Situation changed as a result of WWII.

1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments

Landmark immigration law. It relaxed restriction on immigration from

Asia by eliminating national origin, race, or ancestry.

It emphasized family reunification. It reflected the civil rights era. Most Asian Americans today are

beneficiaries of the 1965 law.

Discriminations Against Chinese Workers

No right to join unions. Could not own land. Could not form families by marrying local

women. Could not bring women to marry from

home. Could not live outside ethnic ghettos. Racial conflicts between Chinese and

working-class whites (i.e., riots) were frequent.

The Asian American Paradox While Asian Americans have experienced

discrimination historically, on average they have achieved socioeconomic status equal to or greater than whites’.

There is also a great deal of heterogeneity among Asian Americans: the poverty rates are higher among Asian Americans than among whites.

Explanatory Models of Asian American Success

Culture: Confucian Values

Structure: Selective Immigration

Marginality: Blocked Opportunities

Strategic Adaptation: The interaction of culture, structure, and marginality

Educational Expectation by Race

0 20 40 60 80 100

Native American

White

African American

Hispanic Origin

Asian American

Less than College Graduate College Graduate Post-Graduate

Percentages do not add to 100 because of missing values. N’s for each group are: Asian Americans 1,558; Hispanic Origin 3,184; African American 3,034; White 16,419; and Native American 318.

Data Source: 1988 NELS

Educational Expectation by Asian Ethnicity

0 20 40 60 80 100

Ethnicity Unreported

Other Asian

South Asian

Southeast Asian

Pacific Islander

Korean

Japanese

Filipino

Chinese

Less than College Graduate College Graduate Post-Graduate

Percentages do not add to 100 because of missing values. N’s for each group are: Chinese 309; Filipino 301; Japanese 92; Korean 189; Pacific Islander 105; Southeast Asian 241; South Asian 126;

Other Asian 166; and Ethnicity Unreported 29.Data Source: 1988 NELS

A Stylized Model Linking Education and Occupation

Occupational Expectation

Occupational Attainment

Educational Attainment

EducationalExpectation

A

B

C

DE

“Qualitative” Evidence “We know we are a minority in this society, and we have to

do better than other Americans. … That’s the only way we’ll get ahead” (quoted by Hsia 1988, p. 92).

I don't think that Asians prefer the sciences. Sometimes it is the only avenue open to them. In the sciences, empirical results matter more than in the esoteric discussion of humanities. So that at least as an engineer, you know how to put machines in, and you can be a useful bolt and nut. And I think the job opportunities for us lie in this field (quoted by Lee 1991, p.53).

Table 7: Percent Asian in Occupation Occupation 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Life scientists 2.63 2.92 4.07 6.74 16.08 Physical scientists 0.80 2.50 5.02 7.30 17.09 Social scientists 0.29 1.20 2.13 2.37 4.47 Mathematicians 0.47 2.45 3.66 6.21 5.77 Engineers 0.89 1.58 4.41 6.65 9.26 Architects 1.47 2.50 5.07 6.35 6.86 Physicians, and dentists 1.41 2.87 7.94 9.01 11.72 Nurses, dietitians, and therapists 0.60 1.29 3.48 4.24 4.53 Elementary and pre-school teachers 0.44 0.60 1.12 1.35 2.30 Secondary and vocational edu. teachers 0.32 0.65 1.10 1.77 4.51 Science, engineering technicians 0.98 1.25 3.09 4.92 7.93 Health technologists and technicians 0.85 1.56 2.67 3.73 6.01 Other technologists and technicians 0.81 1.25 3.40 4.47 2.47 Computer specialists 1.21 4.27 7.03 12.87 Writers, artists, and entertainers 0.71 0.86 2.09 3.42 4.42 Lawyers and judges 0.26 0.23 0.72 1.32 3.13 Librarians, archivists, and curators 0.53 1.62 1.96 3.21 2.88 Social and recreation workers 0.88 0.87 1.34 1.67 2.71 Religious workers 0.21 0.33 1.20 2.84 4.46 Accountants 0.87 1.29 3.98 5.43 7.74 Managers and administrators, public 0.55 0.67 1.39 3.77 5.08 Managers and administrators 0.54 0.62 1.56 2.39 4.15 Sales workers, retail 0.42 0.56 1.40 3.28 5.19 Sales workers 0.42 0.43 1.23 2.58 3.76

Table 7: Percent Asian in Occupation (Continued)Office machine operators 0.36 0.73 1.90 3.33 3.59 Bookkeepers 0.49 0.75 1.74 2.92 4.07 Secretaries 0.60 0.69 1.16 1.74 2.31 Clerical workers, general 0.50 0.78 1.80 2.96 4.03 Automobile mechanics and repairmen 0.60 0.52 1.18 1.58 2.49 General mechanics and repairmen 0.47 0.51 1.15 1.86 2.87 Carpenters 0.54 0.56 0.67 1.01 1.40 Electricians 0.26 0.63 1.14 1.51 1.94 Other construction trades 0.30 0.42 0.61 0.95 1.27 Metal craftsmen, except mechanics 0.34 0.30 0.98 1.97 4.26 Other craftsmen 0.26 0.47 2.41 4.72 4.70 Textile operators 1.15 1.41 3.50 6.51 9.97 Metalworking operators 0.24 0.26 0.85 1.28 5.33 Transport equipment operators 0.27 0.34 0.58 1.13 2.23 Operators, exc. textile, metal. and trans. 0.33 0.49 1.25 2.46 2.46 Labors, except farm 0.42 0.62 1.22 1.68 2.68 Farmers and farm laborers 1.09 0.84 0.99 1.16 1.41 Forestry, and fishing occupations 1.13 0.65 0.56 1.80 2.89 Cleaning and food service workers 0.92 1.19 2.64 3.79 4.61 Health service workers 0.22 0.53 1.61 2.28 4.28 Personal service workers 0.54 1.20 2.81 4.31 5.39 Barbers, hairdressers and cosmetologists 0.74 0.74 1.73 3.55 9.56 Protective service workers 0.20 0.36 0.75 1.27 2.24 Total 0.55 0.74 1.69 2.80 4.34 Index of Dissimilarity 19.23% 17.96% 20.48% 13.03% 11.37%

Table 10: Intermarriage Rates

by Gender

Non-Asian (%)

Same Asian Eth. (%)

Other Asian (%)

All Asians Men 11.6 Women 23.0 Chinese Men 5.5 89.4 5.1 Women 12.7 83.2 4.1 Japanese Men 21.3 67.9 10.8 Women 41.5 49.7 8.8 Filipino Men 12.3 83.3 4.4 Women 33.6 61.8 4.6 Korean Men 4.3 92.9 2.8 Women 25.9 70.7 3.4 A. Indian Men 7.4 90.3 2.3 Women 5.6 91.9 2.5

III. Assimilation and Segmented Assimilation

Classic assimilation theory: assimilation == narrow gap between immigrants and natives == higher SES

Segmented assimilation theory: assimilation may lead to bad outcomes – downward assimilation, because American society is diverse; thus immigrants may be better off not fully assimilated to American culture.

IV. Law and Order in China In traditional China, law and order were

closely related. Judicial matters were handled by

administrators-officials. Special considerations were given to:

Impact on others in society. “Fairness” in consequences, not necessarily

in procedure. For example, a long tradition of capital

punishment.

Today’s Legal System in China

Hard to make legal system to be independent from politics or government.

Professionalization of lawyers is on the way.

V. Environment

V. Environment A principal-agency problem. Central government represents all

Chinese and their long-term interests. It wants to protect the environment.

However, it cannot do any work without agents -- cadres, who may profit from abuse of their power.

Government can only control them through bureaucracy –> large, bureaucratic, and authoritarian state.

VI. Popular Culture

I don’t really know about it. I offer three characterizations:

Very important, particularly to youth. (Think of Tocqueville.)

Diverse (mixture of East and West; mixture of modern and ancient).

Fast-paced and competitive (generational gaps).

VII. Open Discussion

Your turn now.