Author: Leo Suryadinata, Lee Guan Kin

Publisher: Chinese Heritage Centre, Centre for Chinese Language and Culture

Publishing year: 2009

Call Number: DS732.C539p

Description: There have been four major waves of Chinese migration in history, and up to the third wave, the majority of Chinese migrants went to Southeast Asia. However, the fourth wave, which started in the 1980s during the era of globalization, which is still ongoing ,appears to differ from the previous migrations in terms of destinations and quality of migrants. More migrants have gone to the developed west; some have gone with skills and capital and some are also trans-nationals who assume multi-nationalities. All this made the migration scene more complicated than before.

This book is based on an international conference held in October 2007 and aims to examine Chinese migration in comparative perspectives. The chapters deal with migrants and their descendants, old and new, in the Western and Asian context, from the past to the present, in terms of their processes of adaptation and changing orientations, the problems that faced/face, and the prospect that they held/hold. Some interesting findings have been presented and further studies are required to throw more light on Chinese migrations,especially with regard to the new waves which are still ongoing. Nevertheless, on-going research on comparative approaches/perspectives are needed in order to generate new theories and concepts.