Flow and Flux: The Political History of Chinese Emigration to France, 1949–1990

This book examines the political circumstances of Chinese immigrants in France within a broader political climate. It explores how China’s top-down policy shifts and internal policy debates  since 1949 affected overseas Chinese policies and the lives of Chinese immigrants in France. Illustrating the special emigration policy of a socialist country during the Mao era and the characteristic tug-of-war between the mainland and Taiwan over overseas Chinese in Europe, this work also identifies “windows of opportunity” during gaps in political campaigns when the Chinese government favoured its overseas citizens, challenging misconceptions about China’s overseas policies before 1978.

Additionally, this book analyses migration waves after 1978, concluding that the Chinese government played a pivotal role in driving these migrations. It addresses how large-scale migration emerged after the Reform and Opening-up, especially after 1984, linking this to shifts in Communist Party policies, bureaucratic practices, and how the French and Chinese government deal with the illegal migration issue.

Grounded in an exceptionally broad and rare set of source materials, this book draws from archives at seven research centres across mainland China, as well as collections from Academia Sinica in Taiwan, the French National Library, and French diplomatic archives. The author further enriches the analysis with first-hand interviews, including conversations with government officials, police officers, former human smugglers, and former overseas students involved in the Nationalist–Communist struggle. By leveraging these uncommon archival resources and unique personal accounts, the author tries to guide readers toward a more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the forces shaping Chinese migration to France.