Exploring 'Unseen' Social Capital in Community Participation

Front matter

Exploring ‘Unseen’ Social Capital in Community Participation

(cas) PUBLICATIONS SERIES

General Editor Paul van der Velde

Preface

3 Historical and Cultural Contexts of Mainland Chinese Migrants in Hong Kong

4 Investing in Social Capital? - Considering the Paradoxes of Agency in Social Exchange

5 ‘Getting the Social Relations Right’? - Understanding Institutional Plurality and Dynamics

Notes

Annex I

Acknowledgements

Preface

I

I.I I.2

1.3

1.4

What this book is about

1.2.1 Collective action theories

1.2.2 First-generation collective action model 1.2.3 Second-generation collective action model 1.2.4 Ostrom’s collective action model

1.2.5 Design Principles

1.2.6 Neo-institutional thinking

1.2.7 Institutional evolutionism and transferability 1.2.8 Bottom-up, community-based participation Criticisms

1.3.1 Ambiguous intentionality: shifting from interestto norm-driven? 1.3.2 Over-simplification of institutions 1.3.3 Inadequate social construction of authority 1.3.4 Methodological limitations Alternative perspective to social capital building 1.4.1 Turning to social theories 1.4.2 Agency-institution-structure framework 1.4.2.1 Agency 1.4.2.2 Institution 1.4.2.3 Structure 1.4.3 Understanding ‘unseen social capital Research methodology and contexts 1.5.1 Profile of migrant groups and research areas Chapter map

Objectives

2.2 2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

3.1 3.2

3-3

Research questions 48 Ethnographic research 49 2.3.1 Limitations of current quantitative approach 49 2.3.2 What is ethnography? 50 2.3.3. How is ethnography relevant to social capital study? 51 2.3.4 Realism 52 Case studies approach 53 2.4.1 Migrant groups 56 2.4.2 Clan associations 57 Research methods 58 2.5.1 Natural observation 58 2.5.2 Participant observation 59

2.5.2.1 Negotiating physical access 59

2.5.2.2 Data recording and analysis 60

2.5.2.3 Reflections on participant observations 61 2.5.3 Interviews 62

2.5.3.1 Life course approach 63

2.5.3.2 Key informant/ key player interviews 64

2.5.4.3 Reflections on interviews 65 Validity, reflexivity and research limitations 67 2.6.1 External and internal validity 67 2.6.2 Gender and identity 69 2.6.3 Ethical issues 70 2.6.4 Limitations of my research 70

Historical and Cultural Contexts of Mainland Chinese

Migrants in Hong Kong 73

3.2.1 Open and closed border (1945-1960) 74

3.2.3 One-way permit quota system (1980-1990) 77

3.2.3.1 Adjustment policy and split family phenomenon 77

3.2.3.2 Economic restructuring 78

3.2.3.3 The rise of the Hong Kong identity 79

3.2.4 Last decade of British rule (1990-1997) 80

3.2.4.1 NGOs challenge assimilation policy 80

3.2.4.2 Paradoxes of community participation 81

3.2.5 Post-Handover stage (1997-present) 82

3.2.5.1 Community Investment and Inclusion Fund 83 3.2.5.2 Citizen rights, empowerment and the feminist

movement 85

Social relations, culture and subjectivity 85

3-4

3-5

3-7

4.2

4-4

4.6

4-7

4.8

4-9

3.3.1 Informal social networks

3.3.2 Strong Chinese familism and face-saving mentality 3.3.3 Implications for collective action Neighbourhood

3.4.1 Geographical location

3.4.2 Physical infrastructure and social participation 3.4.3 Social relations between family members 3.4.4 Avoiding neighbourly contacts as a strategy Gender and authority

3.5.1 Ideal form of collective action

3.5.2 Complexity of gender relations

Migrant subjectivity and experience

Investing in Social Capital? - Considering the Paradoxes of Agency in Social Exchange