A Study On Domestic Returned Overseas Chinese Association Since Reform And Opening Up

In the 1950 s and 1960 s,overseas Chinese were either invited by the founding of the People’s Republic of China to participate in construction and study,or due to the Chinese Exclusion of Southeast Asia and other countries,and they returned to the motherland on a large scale.These returned overseas Chinese experienced hardships in their hometown.In 1978,with the restoration of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Policy of reform and opening up,the development of returned overseas Chinese and their associations showed new opportunities.The returned overseas Chinese associations all over the country have sprung up.According to statistics,there are more than 100 returned overseas Chinese associations in the country.The powerful world-wide civil society relationship network behind the returned overseas Chinese associations reflects its unique functions and social significance in today’s society where the world is increasingly connected.Studying the formation,evolution and living conditions of the returned overseas Chinese associations can clarify the choice of the survival strategy of the returned overseas Chinese in the special institutional environment of the country and broaden the horizon of the study of the history of the returned overseas Chinese.A case study of the Xiamen Burma returned overseas Chinese Association shows that the returned overseas Chinese association is a non-governmental organization that has emerged since the reform and opening up,and has been operating from the bottom up,operating independently and serving overseas Chinese.The returned overseas Chinese use the social space provided by the reform and opening up,with the elite of the former overseas Chinese schools as the backbone,inheriting and carrying forward the spirit of "social and mutual assistance" inherited from the overseas Chinese residence.Through the development of internal and external activities,not only can the returned overseas Chinese groups be cared for by the associations,create a family atmosphere,enhance the sense of belonging of returned overseas Chinese,and further condense the overseas Chinese,but also play a bridge role,strive for overseas Chinese benefits,act as a lubricant for the government and society,alleviate social contradictions to some degrees,maintain social stability,and improve the image of the government.Particularly in the close interaction with the overseas Chinese associations around the world,returned overseas Chinese associations serve the overseas Chinese in the world by the construction and strengthening of multinational networks.This powerful civil multinational network has the characteristic of transcending national borders which can quickly poolresources at home and abroad.It can not only promote the people to people exchanges and cultural exchanges between the countries along the Belt and Road,but also be an important civil force for the realization of the community with a shared future for mankind.Of course,subject to the strict “double management” system of the domestic government for associations,the association has developed a special survival strategy.On the one hand,with the help of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese,People’s Organizations of China,the associations have been able to organize activities legally.On the other hand,by electing the cadres of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese as the chairman of the board,counting on the certain resources acquired from governments,they gradually become institutional dependent on the "from top to bottom" official organization of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.The association registration system has different institutional arrangements for the first-level people’s organizations of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese,which has caused the state administrative forces systematically embedded in the management operations of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese,thereby affecting the autonomy and independence of the returned overseas Chinese associations.With the development of economic globalization,the administrative reform of the government has continuously required social organizations to carry out organizational reforms.The reform of the associations needs to be driven by the policy from top to bottom.The returned overseas Chinese associations will be separated from the rigid administrative system of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese,carrying out socialized operations,given a normal orientation,strengthen the sociality of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.Besides,the ways to promote the healthy development of returned overseas Chinese associations are strengthening the sociality of The Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese,reforming the administrative system,revising the "Regulations on the Administration of Associations",and relaxing the access thresholds of the associations,etc.