The migrant voice : the politics of writing home between the Sinophone and Anglophone worlds

This paper addresses the politics of language, identity, and diasporic Chinese writing in old and emerging Chinese migrant literature. I opt for the idea of a “migrant subject” as brought up by Ha Jin to underscore a diverse verbal strategy and mobile literary creativity: that of the migrant writer who initiates linguistic and literary perversions to actively intervene in the cultural politics of both the host country and the motherland. The article proceeds to recuperate the diasporic narratives of Sinophone authors Bai Xianyong and Nie Hualing as two earlier examples of migrant writers before Ha, which exemplified the Cold War phase of overseas Chinese American writing. Whereas writing in an adopted tongue of English, as attested by Ha himself, unleashes his creative and critical urges, for Bai and Nie writing in Chinese in a foreign land as America does likewise and ushers in the critical distance cherished by the migrant writers to work on such subject matters as exile and cultural alienation. Originally written in Chinese or English, their migrant voices bring in a minor language to major traditions (Chinese literature and American English literature). Tracing the historical trajectory of migrant literature, in which Sinophone and Anglophone texts are increasingly translated and circulated between cultures, I stress the gains in translation and intercultural writing as the migrant subject can stand valid as a position for writers of transnational literary creativity

Out of the ivory tower: the impact of wider social contact on the values, religious beliefs and identities of Chinese postgraduate students in the UK

This article explores the impact of wider social contact on the experience of Chinese postgraduate students of adaptation to life in the UK. Focus group and individual interviews were conducted with a group of 11 Chinese students on an MA programme at a university in southern England and individual interviews with three representatives of a local volunteer group (LVG) offering support to the Chinese students. Although it was perceived that the students’ support needs were not adequately met by the University, the additional support offered outside the University was unanimously valued and considered as enriching their cultural and linguistic experiences and meeting their expectations. However, frequent social contact with the LVG, whose members were mostly Christians, also had an impact on their values, religious beliefs and identities. In a discussion framed within the sociological perspective of proselytization or religious conversion and the broad framework of international education and globalization, the different responses to this contact are described in terms of believers, doubters, empathisers and commentators. Implications are considered for universities, people involved in providing social support for international students, and sponsors of international students

Encounters at the Grassroots Level: Chinese-Georgian Interactions in the BRI Era

Under the label of the BRI (Belt Road Initiative), bilateral agreements have been signed between the PRC (People's Republic of China) and the Georgian government. Both governments promote cooperation. This article, however, explores face-to-face encounters between Georgian and Chinese individuals in this context. It discusses how the BRI is implemented and perceived in Georgia and thus provides grassroots materials for comparative analysis. It argues that while Chinese are met with prejudice, everyday encounters between locals and Chinese are shaped by pragmatic considerations and the long-term goals of the different actors involved. These actors, according to their goals, use a set of strategies when it comes to establishing social relationships

A study on the dynamic tension of galloping conductors based on energy balance method

Dynamic tension variation caused by conductor galloping is a major impact on design and stable operation of overhead transmission lines. A formula to calculate tension variation caused by the conductor galloping was presented in this paper by using the energy balance method. And two important parameters and were proposed by the dimensionless analysis to study the factors influencing the dynamic tension. By comparison with the popular expression obtained by the length variation method, the formula deduced in this paper has more extensive applications and it was simplified to obtain the expression derived by the length variation method as the parameters and have the smaller values. Using the actual galloping conditions, the tension variation maximum against the different parameters was obtained and it can go up to 3-4 times as large as the initial tension for some extreme cases. Additional a finite element galloping model was used to verify the theoretical expression. The results by the theoretical calculation were agreement well with the numerical simulated values except the extremely large amplitude galloping conditions

Entropy-Based Complexity Metrics for Coal Resource Consolidation System Engineering

AbstractBased on the basic principle of management entropy theory, this paper constructs a metric scale and entropy-based quantization model for evaluating the complexity of resource consolidation system engineering. Under the transformed structure of coal resource consolidation system of Shanxi Province and the constructed relation mode, the proposed model is put in practice to analyze and evaluate the complexity of Shanxi coal resources consolidation system. The results show that by importing material, energy and information, the complex system evolves to the direction of order and dynamic balance

The Changing Shopping Space in Georgia: The Influence from the Chinese ‘Belt and Road Initiative’

The Caucasus region is where the east meets the west and is known as an area in whichconflictsandopportunitiesoccursimultaneously.Thedevelopmentofthisregion used to be constricted by its geographic and political conditions. However, due to advancements in transport and the dissolution of Soviet Union, the Caucasus region has become a strategic region for development. ThisresearchfocusesonGeorgiainCaucasusduetothecountry’sintimaterelationships with many European and Asian countries. In addition, China announced that it will invest more infrastructure and capital in Georgia. Due to the influence of the Chinese ‘BeltandRoadInitiative’(B&R),Georgiaiscurrentlyundergoingmanychanges,despite discussions focusing on political or economic perspectives. With the global free market and the Chinese ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Georgia seeks to increase its economic development. Shopping space is one of the most affected spaces of development. Attributes such as the placement of shops can be analysed to indicate the change of internal public space, as shops become very Chinese style and the traditional Georgian shopping spaces gradually disappear due to the constant chasing of cash flows. As a pilot study, this research hopes to uncover potentials and threats of shopping space development in Georgia, and it aims to discover the underlying principles for the changes. Mapping and case studies are employed in the investigation. The research hopes to contribute to a healthy urban development by finding the balance between economic and spatial development

Building Judicial Integrity in China

Since the late 1970s, the Chinese judiciary has undergone a continuous reform process of professionalization and institutionalization. Despite the political constraints, there are sufficient opportunities and incentives to continue China's judicial reform so as to enhance judicial capacity and rebuild trust and credibility. It is undeniable that the Chinese judiciary has been improving itself noticeably through enhancing professionalism, institutionalization and autonomy. Judicial reform is possible because China’s authoritarian system demands for a degree of the rule of law. First, rule of law legitimizes political powers and generations of party and, without exceptions, state leaders in the reform China have invariably embraced the concept of rule of law at certain stage of terms. Second, the central government may rely on the rule of law and an effective court in particular to rein in local governments. Third, the rule of law may have proved to be the most effective mechanism for dispute resolution in the long run. The primary function of the court from this perspective is to offer efficient dispute resolution for the vast majority of individual cases. To be effective for an institution that is politically weak, the judiciary must develop a sufficient degree of credibility that it is autonomous from political and social influences, neutral to the parties before it, and fair in applying rules. China is likely to develop a judiciary that is politically submissive, but professionally capable in offering effective and fair legal solution to disputes.preprin

Small Circle, Entrenched Interest: The Electoral Anomalies of Hong Kong Deputies to the National People's Congress

Theoretically, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) represent the interests of Hong Kong people in China's highest organ of state power. The Central Authorities, through the Standing Committee of the NPC, exert a tight control over the electoral process in Hong Kong by making electoral rules, limiting the scope of eligible voters, and by utilising other formal and informal control mechanisms. Yet, a degree of autonomy in the electoral process produces results different from those expected by the Central Authorities. This article argues that the “small circle” election creates opportunities and incentives for developing special interests. Gradually, these special interests become entrenched and develop a life of their own.published_or_final_versio