The Study Of The Situation Of Mexican Migrants In Shanghai, China

The present thesis is focused on the phenomenon of migration,understanding it from a particular angle.For the purpose of this paper,international migration is the principal object of the study,particularly the case of Mexican migration in the city of Shanghai,China,a place that has called especial attention during the last decades when the country started the opening reforms at the end of the decade of the 70 s and beginning of the 80 s of the last century,which led the country to an expansion of its economy and to be an important actor in a more globalized world,but it calls special attention the case of the east coast of China,having that the main cities of the country are located in this area.Eventually,this nation has experimented an important increase in the demand and offer of labor resources,along with the investment from foreign companies within its territory.Migration has been a major topic that has gained a wide discussion globally,especially on the contribution to the growth of many major cities in the five continents,even if those have been benefited not only from internal migration but also from the international one.The studies of internal or local migration in China are abundant,but in term of numbers,they rebase those that address the phenomenon of international migration in China,being the most recognized ones those that are focused on Europeans,Asians,Anglo Americans,and Africans.Previous the elaboration of this study,it was quite a challenge to encounter bibliography that presents a recent perspective from the side of Latin American countries in the Asian continent and in specific China,as the economic success of this country during the last few decades seems to be appreciated as a new phenomenon in that region of the world,where Mexico is located.Despite the diplomatic ties from China and most of the Latin American countries started more than four decades ago.The particular case of study regarding this paper is concerning one part of that population,centering the research in Mexican citizens,who are performing remunerated activities in one of the most flourishing and cosmopolitan cities of China,Shanghai.This paper gives a perception in the way it builds an approach to a part of the actors that have a significant participation in the local economy,international migrants,but more specific,Mexican migrants in Shanghai.Therefore,the significance for the elaboration of this thesis resides in the construction of first-hand information that is given through the methodology used,in order to understand the conditions and experiences of certain type of foreigners living in China,their struggles,challenges and how they cope with those,establishing strategies in the local environment,having in consideration that this country has been in constant change in diverse scopes like the political,economic,and social,taking now an important role in the global economy and diplomacy.This paper also reflects from another perspective the views about China and presents some of the multiple reasons why international migrants decide to establish in the country,principally to start a job within the territory.At the same time,it extends and puts more details on the information given previously by official data,such as a glimpse of the general profile of this type of migrants,but also their concerns and facts regarding their staying and opinions on their contact and communication with Chinese local citizens.The first part,integrated by Chapter 1,introduces the present study and provides the hypothesis for the elaboration of this paper.In this section there are given and explained the principal research methods used in order to generate and compile information,such as first-hand resources,and the second-hand resources which were the core part of the present study,integrated by questionnaires and in-depth interviews,being those the ones that provided the further information and support for the posterior analysis and explain the hypothesis.Chapter 2 contains the most relevant historical background of the migration in China.In this section is also given a brief presentation the concept of migration and international migration,the differences and approaches between those two.There were reviewed some of the most relevant theories of migration and international migration,namely the neoclassic and neoliberal,and also presenting the most relevant modern theory,as the factors and motivations that are behind the flows of people in different areas.It's also important to clarify that in the theoretical studies can be reflected some of the empirical facts,although,the study of migration is very extensive and concerns to a diversity of social discipline.However for the nature of the present study,economic and social factors were relevant in the elaboration of the paper.In the second part of the study,Chapter 3,it's explained the panorama and situation of the international migration in China,having a differentiation between internal and international migration that happens in this nation,also it is presented how this phenomenon has contributed to the development in city like Shanghai,in the economic and social terms and the probable future of the international migration has ahead by 2020.In this way,there are exposed the main results about international immigrants in China and Shanghai,and why this last can be a desirable destination for foreigners.As a conclusion of this chapter,it is presented the case of Mexican migrants in China according to official data provided by consulates and embassy in the country.The last part of this thesis,Chapter 4,consists mainly of the presentation and description of the research results for the empirical study,in this case,analyzing outcomes of the interviews and questionnaires that Mexican citizens who are living and working in the city of Shanghai,showing a general profile and also the reasons why they chose China,but especially Shanghai as a desirable place to live,at the same time their attitudes towards the receiving place.To present the outcomes of the interviews and questionnaires,Chapter 4 has been divided into two parts: the first part integrates the main challenges that the Mexican migrants face and correspondingly,describes the strategies to cope those difficulties and for their further adaptation in the Chinese city of Shanghai.In the second part of this chapter,there will be found some suggestions emanated from the information generated,interviews and from the observations of the author through the elaboration of the paper.It's important to remark that this study is merely descriptive and relies on the two statistical tools used,although,the content is of special interest due to the lack of significant information regarding the Hispanic population in China,and it's expected it will be important to show the perception from this group of migrants towards this Asian country.In Chapter 4,are developed the principal challenges that this part of international migrants has been facing and the relevant strategies they were applying in order to adapt or even integrate to be in a country with a different culture,language,society,etc.In summary,in the whole document,it was given a general view of one portion of the international migrants that integrate a fast-changing Chinese society giving insights of their general situation,profile and feelings towards their lives in China,as their own motives and attitudes to stay in the country.The elaboration of this thesis can contribute not only to provide a general panorama of the situation of Mexican migrants living in Shanghai with data,but also it could be considered as a tool to establish a path in order to develop new strategies and initiatives that can be brought by both sides,a better cooperation and knowledge about the actors that are changing the scenes in the local and international economies.