Places of origin and development of local Chinese trade zones in Lima, Peru
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35588/h93v5584Keywords:
China, Peru, diaspora, overseas chinese, trade, ethnic entrepreneurshipAbstract
With the economic boom of the People's Republic of China, various Chinese political actors at various levels have intensified their ties with their compatriots abroad (overseas Chinese), recognizing them as key players in the expansion of global commercial networks. However, Chinese migration abroad predates this phenomenon. With the aim of exploring the spaces of interaction that have shaped contemporary relationships and identities, this research seeks to examine and highlight the main “local Chinese commercial zones”—understood as clusters of businesses owned by Chinese immigrants—that have developed in Lima, Peru. This study investigates the heterogeneity of the Chinese diaspora and migratory trajectories, which in turn influence certain characteristics of areas in downtown Lima and the district of San Borja. The Peruvian case—which hosts the largest number of Chinese migrants and their descendants in Latin America—serves as a basis for comparing experiences in other countries in the region. In particular, in relation to the integration of Chinese immigrants into the local commercial sphere and the dynamics of competition between the different diaspora groups, which ultimately shape and define these spaces.
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