67711 - Sociology of Asian Countries

Course contents

The course consists of two parts, one on social science field research and one on migration from China and the Chinese diaspora in Europe and Africa

1. Social Science Field Research

This part of the course is an introduction to social science field research. The course will address research design, specific research methods, the value of combining methods and tools to strengthen research design, and research ethics. Irreverence and commitment to honesty will be highlighted. Students will be encouraged to experiment field research themselves.

2. The Chinese Diaspora in Europe and Africa

This part of the course focuses on migration from China and on the Chinese diaspora in Africa and Europe.

A. CONCEPTUALIZATION OF MIGRATION, STRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES AND ETHNIC BUSINESSES

The course will present the reconceptualization of international migration taking place in the last decades. Previously adopted theoretical approaches to migration did not adequately come to terms with the complexity of the evolving situation and new approaches had to be adopted. Emphasis has shifted to the migrants themselves, now seen as active agents.

The course will discuss migration from China and the mechanisms for incorporating overseas Chinese into the Chinese strategy to affirm the leadership's political legitimacy, to extend China's political standing and to pursue trans-nationalized status.

The next focus will be on labor market experiences of immigrants and ethnic enterprises. Through a critical review of the literature on the subject, the concepts of ‘middleman minorities' theory , ‘ethnic enclave' , ‘immigrant enclave' and ‘ethnic niche' will be explored and discussed. These concepts will be tested against the experience of Chinese ethnic businesses.

The many and different kinds of links – political, economical, ideological - between the Chinese diaspora and the People's Republic of China will be highlighted.

B. THE CHINESE IN EUROPE AND IN ITALY

We will analyze the main features of the Chinese diaspora in Europe trying to compare, where possible, the different models of inclusion.

The course will then present and discuss fieldwork on Chinese migrants' businesses in Italy, their recent experience as transnational entrepreneurs, their role in Italian industrial districts and interactions with the national and local contexts.

The issue of offspring of Chinese migrants and second generation will finally be touched upon.

C.THE CHINESE IN AFRICA This part of the course will try to shed some light on China's interests in Africa and what measures Bejing has taken in order to safeguard ist interests on the continent. Reactions from European and other Western countries will be analyzed.

A number of videos on the Chinese in Africa produced in the last years will complement the course. The visual material will provide the students with a window on how the Chinese in Africa and their new interests and roles are now presented. By watching and commenting the videos, students will learn how to deal with the way in which different actors interpret and present ‘their' reality.

Readings/Bibliography

* Maurizio Ambrosini, 2011, Sociologia delle migrazioni, Bologna: Il Mulino, chapters to be decided. * Massimiliano Tarozzi, 2008, Che Cos'è la Grounded Theory, Roma: Carocci, capp 3 e 4 (till a 4.2.1), pp 39-70. * Handout of the course. The handout of the course will be available at the bookstoreSerendipità, vicolo de facchini 2, Bologna.

Teaching methods

Classroom teaching;

watching and commenting on videos

Assessment methods

Written exam with open questions.

The written exam can be reduced of up to 50 percent for those students that will do one or more of the following:

1: a presentation followed by discussion with the class of articles chosen by the instructor. Reduction of the final exam of up to 20 percent.

2.a presentation followed by discussion with the class of video/s different from those already included in the program. Reduction of the final exam of up to 20 percent.

3. a long interview (at least one hour) or more short interviews with people knowledgeable in the subject on issues discussed in class. The interview/s should be transcribed, commented in a written form and presented to the class. Reduction of 30% of the final written exam.

Teaching tools

multi media tools

Office hours

See the website of Antonella Ceccagno