Volume 10

Issue N. 2

Ip, Manying and Wardlow Friesen

"The New Chinese Community in New Zealand: Local Outcomes of Transnationalism," 10 (2) p. 213-240, 2001.

The new Chinese community in New Zealand (formed since 1987) is made up of immigrants from the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia as well as other countries. Initially looked upon as harbingers of the “Asian economic miracle” by the New Zealand government, the new arrivals met with numerous unforeseen difficulties. This article is based on the findings of surveys and in-depth interviews in which the primary migrants were asked about their motives for migration, the economic and social outcomes of their migration, their perception of the comparative strengths of their native land and New Zealand, and their long-term view on settlement and return migration. The surveys are also set against background statistics from the 1996 census as well as immigration figures up to 2000. The findings challenge the assumption of the importance of the economic motivation of migration, and point to the primacy of social and environmental factors.  They also suggest that transnationalism is a long-term strategy, instead of a temporary expediency, but also that most Chinese migrants in New Zealand have tried to integrate with the host society when possible.

Chitose, Yoshimi

"The Effects of Ethnic Concentration on Internal Migration in Peninsular Malaysia," 10 (2), p. 241-272, 2001.

Recent research on internal migration highlights the importance of considering social dimensions such as the deterrent effects of nativity concentration on the migration of the foreign-born. Most of these studies are focused on the experiences of immigrant men in the United States. The aim of this study is to explore this relationship in a developing country and to compare the experiences of both men and women using a dynamic framework. Using life-history data I examine the effects of ethnic concentration on the first migration experiences of men and women in Peninsular Malaysia between 1951 and 1988. I found that (1) ethnic concentration deters the migration of both men and women, (2) the deterrent effect of co-ethnic concentration is stronger for non-Malay women, while the effect was similar for Malay and non-Malay men, and (3) the New Economic Policy had a positive effect only on the migration of Malay men.

Phillips, Matthew W. and Charles W. Stahl

International Trade in Higher Education Services in the Asia Pacific Region: Trends and Issues, 10 (2) p. 273-301, 2001.

The expansion of trade and investment in the global economy since the 1980s has been accompanied by an associated growth in the international trade in education services, particularly higher education. In this paper we provide a detailed analysis of the expansion of higher educational mobility, measured by the burgeoning numbers of tertiary students going abroad to study. In particular, this paper investigates the increasing mobility of students from the Asia Pacific region undertaking study in Western Europe, North America and Australia. The paper argues that increasing international trade in education services in the Asia Pacific region reflects the strategic importance of these services to develop and maintain the long-term economic and social viability of these nations. Increasingly governments throughout the world now recognize the crucial role of education in fostering economic growth (especially in new knowledge-based sectors), personal and social development, as well as reducing inequality. Nations with well-established and prestigious higher education systems such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have been the main beneficiaries of this growing trade in education services. These countries have been at the forefront of educational exports as they have led aggressive marketing campaigns to recruit new students as well as develop new methods of higher education provision and delivery. Further, this paper explores the positive and negative effects of student mobility, and the linkages between the internationalization of higher education and the professions. Finally, this study makes some suggestions for further research.

Louw, Eric and Gary Mersham

"Packing for Perth: The Growth of a Southern African Diaspora," 10 (2) p. 303-333, 2001.

Southern African decolonization, the civil war and post-apartheid turmoil are creating a Southern African diaspora across the Anglo world. Australia has become a popular destination within this diaspora that South Africans now refer to emigration in general as "packing for Perth." Thus far, little work has been done on this migratory phenomenon. This article seeks to develop an overview of the birth and developments of this diaspora, with a focus on the growth of the South African Australian community. As an overview, the article provides insights on how this emergent diaspora relates to earlier migrations, the factors behind post-apartheid emigration, the patterns and characteristics of post-apartheid migration, and the significance of Australia as a destination for South African migrants.