ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on collective migration motivation of people in regions of large-scale emigration in Wenzhou, usually called qiaoxiang in Chinese. According to postmodern theorists, "the circulation of people, goods, and ideas creates a new transnational culture that combines values, behaviour, and attitudes from sending and receiving societies to create a new, largely autonomous social space that transcends national boundaries. This transnationalization of culture changes the context within which migration decisions are made". In Wenzhou qiaoxiang, a "culture of migration" has emerged that is distinct from the culture of surrounding areas. As qiaoxiang people, they are proud of their close connections with rich Europe. They believe "getting rich in Europe" is their common destination. They ignore how few of their peers in Europe can really be considered successful and how hard life really is for many migrants.