Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies

Abstract

In the age of globalization and transnationalism, global diasporas are recognized as some of the most influential social formations. This thesis explores the ways in which a nation state may engage with its diaspora or transnational community through recreating lost territoriality with diaspora tourism. Employing Dahinden’s framework of mobility and locality as well as Basch’s considerations of diaspora maintenance, this study examines the manner in which China employs its tourism and governmental structures to attract overseas Chinese communities back to the homeland. The first chapter considers the definitions of diaspora and transnational communities as well as state motivations for connecting to diasporas. The second chapter overviews the development of China’s tourism industry and overseas Chinese tourism apparatus, as well as the historical context of China’s engagement with overseas Chinese. The third chapter presents the efforts themselves – the Overseas Chinese Office-sponsored youth root tours and professional conferences. The setting and the manner in which such engagement takes place indicate programs tailored to China’s specific interests toward diasporas’ states of residence, as well as the role of independent overseas Chinese associations as promoters of the diaspora’s relationship with the PRC.

Download

Share

COinS