535.4
Soft Power, Reciprocity and Guanxi: Temporary Business Migration, New Media and Belonging
This paper connects two contemporary bodies of literature surrounding the nation that appear to be unrelated. The first is what might broadly be termed, disasporic connections. Although the notion of long-distance nationalism relegates the participation of diaspora in home nations to interference, work on transnationalism and diaspora advocacy redeem these practices by revealing them to be two rather than one-way flows of socio-political influence and econo-cultural goodwill. Increasing migration from traditionally receiving nations such as Canada and Australia has also hastened the realization of diasporas as assets in the service of national interests. The second body of literature can be loosely grouped under the banner of soft power research. Perhaps spurred on by China’s adoption of Nye’s notion of soft power in recent times, these focus on the management of how one’s own nations is perceived by foreign publics and other nations and include literature on nation branding, national reputations and public diplomacy.
Both bodies of work, diaspora connections and soft power, understand relationships between nations and diaspora-to-home-nation as dyadic and reciprocal. Hence, though the two bodies of work develop in parallel they remain poorly connected. We submit that as their concern is with how individuals understand and relate to nations these bodies of research might be productively viewed as connected through a more specific triadic relationship between diaspora, home and host nation. As part of a new study on temporary business migration from China to Australia, this paper will use examples from new media to explore how theories of reciprocity and guanxi can shed light on this triad. Doing so will allow for a more holistic understanding of the various forces that shape the temporary migrant's experience, and a grasp of the mechanisms that engender belonging amidst the uncertainties of provisional residence.