New Publication
This article that one of DKU alumni Krista McJarrow-Keller and Prof. Keping Wu co-authored is finally published in a well ranked journal.
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From Survivalism to Rooted Cosmopolitanism: Transformations of a Chinese Voluntary Association in New Zealand
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Author
Krista McJarrow-Keller
Krista is a DKU graduate of the Cultures and Movements Major (Cultural Anthropology) from Te Papaioea, New Zealand. Since graduating she has lived in Berlin and now resides in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, where she is an avid reader, forager and contributor to grassroots organising. She works in local government, and her team collaborates with iwi (Māori organisations), developers and other important stakeholders on large scale private/public initiatives.
Prof. Keping Wu
Keping Wu is Associate Professor of Anthropology. Her research examines ethnicity, religion, gender and civil society in both China and globally. She teaches in the Cultures and Movements Major at DKU and is passionate about supporting student research projects.
· · Introduction · ·
The first Chinese people arrived in New Zealand in the 1860s, from the rural Cantonese-speaking counties in Guangdong. Closed off for many years from the mainstream society, their community became the haven for the preservation of Chinese cultural and religious traditions. Chinese Voluntary Associations (CVAs) quickly became established, taking the form of churches, broad community groups, and business associations.
The Chinese diaspora in Aotearoa further grew due to the immigration reform of 1987, which saw an increase in Chinese migrants from multiple regional and dialectic backgrounds. The economic, political, linguistic and social diversity present thereafter has created tensions and complexities the CVAs have had to navigate.
· · Thesis and Aims · ·
How has this once insular association, created by a long established and homogenous “old Chinese” society, become more diverse and inclusive, whilst also trying to maintain its relevance? Our alumnus Krista McJarrow-Keller and Prof. Keping Wu’s co-authored article answers this question.
Published in a well-ranked journal, their paper argues that the unique “rooted cosmopolitanism” in the association, coupled with local practices have enabled it to alleviate tensions within the community, and curtail tension and division.
· · Methodology · ·
Their in-depth case study focuses on a Chinese Voluntary Association in the Manawatū region. The research was conducted through the participant-observation of their events and activities and through interviews. Chinese Voluntary Associations draw in people from different professional backgrounds and age groups. The large pool of individuals that were interviewed reflects that.
· · Research and Findings · ·
The paper utilises Ulf Hannerz’s view that cosmopolitanism signifies the “coexistence of cultures in the individual experience,” although they disagree with the assertion that there is a dichotomy between cosmopolitanism and the local. They argue instead that cosmopolitanism refers to a sense of belonging which is rooted in the local community but also transcends national, ethnic, and racial boundaries. The members of the studied association not only feel connected to the group but also to the entire community of Chinese New Zealanders. Consequently, the outlook is both cosmopolitan and deeply rooted.
It was intrinsic for the CVA to restructure its organisation to remain relevant. For a long time, the association was just an organic extension of the local Chinese community. This started to change in the mid-2010s, and by 2021, all activities were planned and reported by the “15-person-strong” organisational committee. A clear methodology is used to decide the events that are going to be organised, and the association receives funding from outside sources, such as the government.
Furthermore, an endeavour inside the CVAs was balancing the efforts of maintaining their Cantonese origins and accepting the need to open the associations to people beyond the established community. Now the CVA is now part of the city’s multicultural life. They are but one piece in a coalition of ethnic associations that host cross-culturally organised events.
Krista McJarrow-Keller and Prof. Keping Wu argue that the close-knit beginnings of the association have a deep impact on its decision-making process today. Trust and respect are key for members of the organising committee, with the feeling of responsibility for the history and efforts of their predecessors. Such intimacy, though crucial for the survival of the CVA, may cause a panacea for potential tensions. In an interview, one committee member acquiesced that there is an underlying fear that newer generations may fail to appreciate their efforts.
Conversely, the newer generation is more concerned with identity than community, out of the necessity of representing all Chinese people. Increased cosmopolitanism emboldens them to get involved in politics and support the notion of “pan-Asianism.” Findings show that the CVA have an astounding ability to walk the line between unity and diversity, owing to the community’s past. The past, yet again, influences the present and future.
· · Relevance · ·
Krista McJarrow-Keller and Prof. Keping Wu’s research is done in Aotearoa, a region penitently neglected in global CVA research. It provides keen insight into how communities can adapt to demographic changes, in order to maintain their roots and embrace diversity and change. In addition, the article assesses the history and relevance of CVAs, focusing on aspects pertaining to community, support, and coexistence.
· · Conclusion · ·
We congratulate Krista McJarrow-Keller and Prof. Keping Wu for their achievement. Their astute research will irrefutably contribute to the comprehension of not only CVAs but also multiculturalism in practice globally. This research also showcases the quality of work by DKU’s student researchers and DKU’s emphasis on faculty-student research collaboration.
Edited by Eric Duma
