Abstract
This article analyses present-day Chinese business associations in Chile in terms of their different territorial origins and types of membership, how leadership is created, and how the associations relate to the Chinese and Chilean states and their respective societies. We propose that (1) new forms of cohesion are putting tension on traditional connections between territorial relationships and areas of origin; (2) monetary and symbolic debts connect individuals and institutions, creating and legitimising leaders; and (3) Chinese business associations in Chile develop mechanisms for mediating the interests of their members, Chinese state policies, and accommodation within the Chilean social and political structure.
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Editor’s notes
Manuscript received on 2 June 2022. Accepted on 23 November 2022.
Excerpt
Full text document will be published online on September 2024.
Outline
Introduction
Small entrepreneur policies and the creation of business associations
Chinese business associations in Chile
The new Chinese state-capital associations
Conclusions
First lines
Introduction
China has become Chile’s leading trade partner, taking the place that traditionally belonged to the United States. In the capital city of Santiago, Chinese immigrants and their goods are concentrated in the Unión Latinoamericana neighbourhood, an old business district located next to the city’s main train station. Their presence has transformed the social relationships and public space in the area (Chan, Ramírez, and Stefoni 2019: 1456; Chan 2021: 106), now a major goods distribution hub for Chile’s central zone.
While the Chinese represent only 5% of all immigrants in Chile, their numbers have grown significantly in the past two decades. The 2002 census registered only 1,653 Chinese immigrants with permanent residency compared to 13,533 in 2020. While there are no statistics on their regional origins, onsite research suggests two main areas: Guangdong and Zhejiang Provinces (Moraga 2018: 133). The “old migration” of primarily Cantonese immigrants who ran Chinese restaura...
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References
Bibliographical reference
Jorge Moraga, Alejandro Garcés, Adrián Saavedra, Rodrigo Manríquez and Qingjun Wu, “Reciprocity and Mediation Between the State and Society: An Overview of Chinese Business Associations in Chile”, China Perspectives, 134 | 2023, 57-66.
Electronic reference
Jorge Moraga, Alejandro Garcés, Adrián Saavedra, Rodrigo Manríquez and Qingjun Wu, “Reciprocity and Mediation Between the State and Society: An Overview of Chinese Business Associations in Chile”, China Perspectives [Online], 134 | 2023, Online since 01 September 2024, connection on 06 December 2023. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/chinaperspectives/15840; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/chinaperspectives.15840
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About the authors
Jorge Moraga is an anthropologist and a faculty member at Universidad Central de Chile, Faculty of Law and Humanities. Lord Cochrane 417, Santiago, 8330507, Chile (jorge.moraga@ucentral.cl).
Alejandro Garcés is an anthropologist and a faculty member at Universidad Católica del Norte, Archaeological Research Institute and Museum. Camino del Inca S/N, Antofagasta, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (ajgarces@gmail.com).
Adrián Saavedra is an anthropologist and a postgraduate student at Institut des hautes études de l'Amérique latine (Institute of advanced studies on Latin America), Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3 University. Campus Condorcet, Bâtiment de recherche sud 5, cours des Humanités 93322, Aubervilliers, France (adriansaavedra@live.cl).
Rodrigo Manríquez is a journalist, researcher and collaborator in Fondecyt Proyect 1230734 in Universidad Central de Chile. Lord Cochrane 417, Santiago, 8330507, Chile (rodrigojaviermanriquezsanchez@gmail.com).
Qingjun Wu is a political scientist and a faculty member at Jinan University, School of International Studies/Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies. No. 601, Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China (victorwu1105@gmail.com).
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Copyright
The text and other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.
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