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Unanticipated Immigration to Sweden: How the Chinese Diaspora Navigates Uncertain Life Transformations

Xu, Zekai LU (2025) SANM05 20251
Social Anthropology
Abstract
This research explores the lived experiences of a group of Chinese diasporas in Stockholm, Sweden, who migrated through unanticipated opportunities rather than long-term planning. In contrast to dominant Chinese cultural values prioritizing stability, careful life planning, and risk aversion, these individuals made bold, transformative decisions to embrace uncertain immigration journeys without prior preparation. Drawing on Paul’s (2014) theory of “transformative experience” and framed within existential anthropology, this research examines what motivated these individuals to take culturally unconventional paths of transnational immigration, and how such experiences reshaped their subjectivities, values, and future aspirations. Based on... (More)
This research explores the lived experiences of a group of Chinese diasporas in Stockholm, Sweden, who migrated through unanticipated opportunities rather than long-term planning. In contrast to dominant Chinese cultural values prioritizing stability, careful life planning, and risk aversion, these individuals made bold, transformative decisions to embrace uncertain immigration journeys without prior preparation. Drawing on Paul’s (2014) theory of “transformative experience” and framed within existential anthropology, this research examines what motivated these individuals to take culturally unconventional paths of transnational immigration, and how such experiences reshaped their subjectivities, values, and future aspirations. Based on three months of fieldwork in Stockholm, Sweden, including participant observation, interviews, and social media content analysis, this research reveals two primary motivations initially held by these Chinese diasporas, which were career advancement and affective commitment to family. It also reveals key challenges such as professional stagnation, limited integration, and identity dislocation during their residence in Sweden. Despite these difficulties, participants actively reoriented their life strategies through continuous reflection and future-making. This research thus expands anthropological understandings of transnational immigration and contributes to broader theoretical discussions on transformation, agency, and meaning-making, demonstrating how people may navigate uncertainty and reimagine life possibilities within dynamic encounters in their lifeworlds. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Xu, Zekai LU
supervisor
organization
course
SANM05 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Chinese Diaspora, Existential Anthropology, Social Anthropology, Storytelling, Swedish Immigrants, Transformative Experience, Transnational Immigration, Values
language
English
id
9193217
date added to LUP
2025-06-05 13:36:21
date last changed
2025-06-05 13:36:21
@misc{9193217,
  abstract     = {{This research explores the lived experiences of a group of Chinese diasporas in Stockholm, Sweden, who migrated through unanticipated opportunities rather than long-term planning. In contrast to dominant Chinese cultural values prioritizing stability, careful life planning, and risk aversion, these individuals made bold, transformative decisions to embrace uncertain immigration journeys without prior preparation. Drawing on Paul’s (2014) theory of “transformative experience” and framed within existential anthropology, this research examines what motivated these individuals to take culturally unconventional paths of transnational immigration, and how such experiences reshaped their subjectivities, values, and future aspirations. Based on three months of fieldwork in Stockholm, Sweden, including participant observation, interviews, and social media content analysis, this research reveals two primary motivations initially held by these Chinese diasporas, which were career advancement and affective commitment to family. It also reveals key challenges such as professional stagnation, limited integration, and identity dislocation during their residence in Sweden. Despite these difficulties, participants actively reoriented their life strategies through continuous reflection and future-making. This research thus expands anthropological understandings of transnational immigration and contributes to broader theoretical discussions on transformation, agency, and meaning-making, demonstrating how people may navigate uncertainty and reimagine life possibilities within dynamic encounters in their lifeworlds.}},
  author       = {{Xu, Zekai}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Unanticipated Immigration to Sweden: How the Chinese Diaspora Navigates Uncertain Life Transformations}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}