The Study On Political Participation Of British Chinese (2006-2016)

British Chinese, a taciturn tribe in history, seldom voice their opinion in politics. With the rise of economic status and comprehensive qualities, overseas Chinese entertain a keen wish to alter their political-status with a view to better safeguarding their lawful rights and legitimate interests and better integrating into society. Political participation of overseas Chinese has seen a marked improvement in the 21st century, especially in the past decade. In 2015, political participation of British Chinese witnessed a historic breakthrough with the emergence of the first ever Chinese member of parliament, which marks a big step forward of political participation of overseas Chinese.The first chapter of this thesis presents an overview of the arduous course chartered by the early overseas Chinese against the background of British immigration policy and analyzes the basic characteristics of Chinese community, with special emphasis placed on British Chinese’s population, occupational makeup and immigration type. The second chapter elaborates on the characteristics of political participation of British Chinese: advocacy of active political participation of British Chinese by overseas social organizations such as Political Participation of British Chinese Initiative, the swelling of the number of British Chinese running for parliament membership, predominance of local election as the means for British Chinese to participate in politics. British Chinese’s interest in political participation remains mild albeit some growth, which is accounted for in the thesis. In the third chapter, discussion is conducted on the historic breakthrough of British Chinese as evidenced by the election of the first ever Chinese parliament member, the reasons of which are explored. In this chapter, there is presentation of other progress made by British Chinese in terms of political participation. In the fourth chapter, introspection of political participation by British Chinese is offered and advice and suggestions about inadequate political participation are provided:the vanguard role played by the young generation of British Chinese, shift of the mentality concerning political participation, transformation of political parties and organizations of British Chinese, enhancement of communication and exchange between British Chinese and British government, moderate relaxing by British government of the restrictions to immigration.Currently, proactive British Chinese has merged into a force drawing more and more attention. For British Chinese, the more actively they participate in politics, the more opportunities they have to safeguard their lawful rights and legitimate interests and the more they tend to integrate into the society. Achievement made in these aspects constitutes a auspicious beginning, yet British Chinese have a long way to march on the course on political participation.