ABSTRACT
Inner Mongols find themselves in a special situation of relatedness to both China and Mongolia, and thus can play a ‘bridge’ role in the two countries’ economic transactions and other relations. Sharing a common historical, ethnic, and cultural heritage with Mongolians and being citizens of China, are they in fact in a (dis)advantageous position for making links between the two realms? This chapter, based on fieldwork conducted in a Chinese border town, discusses the case of a network that brings together Inner Mongol intermediary agents and Mongolian truckers in an unusually successful alliance. Kinship is one of the key resources called upon. The focus of the chapter is on exactly how the relevant actors create trust that can provide the basis for them to cooperate and ensure mutual benefits.
