Honors Theses
Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Croft Institute for International Studies
First Advisor
Marcos Mendoza
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
How has Chinese immigration to Buenos Aires challenged contemporary Argentine multiculturalism? This thesis examines the arrival and integration of Chinese immigrants through a qualitative discourse analysis of Chinese and Spanish-language sources relating to immigration to Argentina, Argentine perceptions of Chinese immigrants, and the Chinese community's self-representation in Argentine spaces. I answer three questions: 1) What is Argentina's new multiculturalism and how does it impact Chinese immigrants? 2) How has the Argentine public responded to new Chinese immigration? And 3) How has the Chinese community responded, establishing their own Sino-Argentine identity? I find that Chinese immigration to Argentina has placed the ethnic economy at the forefront of the Argentine government's multicultural rhetoric. In public discourse, Chinese people are stereotyped and presented as foreign due to the perceived economic and geopolitical threat of China, as well as lack of understanding of the community. However, the growing Sino-Argentine community is working to increase its connections with typical Argentine citizens through positive self-representation in Spanish media and organizations, resulting in a new cross-cultural dialogue that encourages mutual understanding and acceptance.
Recommended Citation
Achgill, Madeleine, "Argentina's contemporary multiculturalism and its implications for Chinese identity in Buenos Aires" (2017). Honors Theses. 604.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/604
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
Comments
A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.