Diasporas and circulation

Scientific project

Asia is an ancient land of migration and exchange. These circulations are determined by political, economic, educational and other factors. These populations form interfaces that are more or less connected to their countries of origin. They act as relays of influence for their countries of origin, or on the contrary, can be elements of counter-influence, particularly when these populations have chosen exile. Through transnational networks, they also drive key sectors of local economies and contribute to the influence of their country of origin in their host country.

This program crosses disciplinary approaches in a comparative and trans-area perspective.

Coordinator : Martine Raibaud, Associate Professor, La Rochelle Université

Project members
– Bai Zhimin (études chinoises, MCF, CRHIA, LRUniv) : Les diasporas chinoises en France et en Indonésie.
– Bellocq Maylis (anthropologie, MCF, TELEM, UBM)  : La diaspora chinoise en France et en Italie.
– Castets Rémi (science politique, MCF, TELEM, UBM) : Structuration et action politique de la diaspora ouïghoure.
– Nuraini Chandra (sociolinguistique, MCF, CRHIA, LRUniv) : La population SAMA BAJAU dispersée sur tout l’Est de l’Indonésie.
– Raibaud Martine (études chinoises, MCF, CRHIA, LRUniv) : Les diasporas chinoises en France, en Indonésie et au Canada.
– Xu Yang (politologue, docteur, Centre Emile Durkheim) : Les commerçants chinois d’Afrique de l’Ouest entre concurrence et regroupements communautaires.
– Winarsih Dwi (études littéraires, Enseignante-Chercheuse contractuelle, CRHIA, LRUniv) : Approche socio- historique sur le rôle de « minorité intermédiaire » de certaines communautés et le problème d’un marché alternatif en Indonésie.
– Waterman David (études littéraires, professeur des universités, CRHIA, LRUniv) : Cultures en mouvement.
– Zhan Su (Management et Affaires Internationales, professeur des universités, Université de Laval) : Les entrepreneurs chinois en Afrique et au Canada : problèmes d’interculturalité.

Scientific events

– Martine Raibaud, séminaire régulier sur les diasporas chinoises dans le cadre du cours “Sociétés asiatiques” du Master Langues, Cultures et Affaires Internationales, La Rochelle Université (2019, 2020, 2021).
– Su Zhan, webinaire “Entrepreneurs migrants au Québec en quête de leviers de performance sous la Covid-19”, 19/02/21

(New) Silk Roads and Asian Influence

Scientific project The history of interactions between human communities in Inner, South and East Asia is marked by relational dynamics and even power relationships that have changed over the centuries. Today, the weight of Asia Pacific and South Asia in the global economy and international relations is growing. Globalization, the development of multilateralism, the rise of the BRICS, the shift in production chains and the development of trade against a backdrop of growing mobility of people and capital are putting these regions back at the heart of the global economy. Asian actors, and in particular emerging countries, are exerting a growing influence on the economy and international relations. They are multiplying links from one continent to another. Their influence on the production and dissemination of standards within the organizations regulating globalization, or via alternative structures (regional in particular), is beginning to be felt. In short, while some of them are developing their own matrices of technological and scientific innovation, Asian players are asserting their ambitions against a backdrop of redistributed diplomatic alliances, competition for strategic resources, the growing military capabilities and elaborate soft power strategies.
In a world where various paradigm shifts are underway, these developments raise a number of questions. What objectives and strategies have the various Asian actors been led to develop, depending on the context, over the long term and during the new phase of globalization that is just beginning? To what extent can the analysis of Asian interactions over the long term provide new insights and perspectives? How are the strategies of Asian actors received by other political and economic actors? What are their integrating/restructuring effects? How are economic and human flows being reshaped, and how are new standards/values being propagated?

As part of this project, D2IA is collaborating on two international research projects:
– BRImpact BRImpact is a multidisciplinary, trans-area project analyzing the impacts and of the BRI in various regions of the world. This project is developed through a partnership between the Institute of Research on East Asia (IFRAE, UMR 8043), the Center for Research on the Iranian World (CeRMI, UMR 8041), D2iA and the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
– Asia-Africa-Europe Interactions and Knowledge Project Supported by an international consortium comprising D2iA, the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) (Leiden) and Sciences Po Rabat (International University of Rabat), Seoul National University and Kasetsart University (Thailand) the Asia-Africa-Europe Dynamics and Knowledge project is based on the structuring of a multidisciplinary network of academic and scientific partners from Africa, Asia and Europe. Through regular scientific events, it aims to develop an observatory of the dynamics/interactions between Asia and Africa, and the issues at stake for European partners.

Coordinator : Castets Rémi (Associate Professor, UBM)

Project members
– Aymard Stéphane (Research Engineer, LRUniv) (economics, diplomacy, history): Confucius Institutes worldwide; Chinese economy
– Bach Daniel (Emeritus Research Director, CNRS) (political science): The BRI as a mega-regional project; Diversity of modes of inscription/transcription of the BRI in Africa, Europe and Asia.
– Bai Zhimin (Associate Professor, LRuniv) (Chinese studies): The France-China encounter on the Silk Road (and its rereadings): from Guillaume de Rubrouck to Joachim Bouvet, 1253-1685.
– Carmona Yves (Retired diplomat, UBM): BRI and China’s influence/power strategy on its eastern and southern flanks.
– Castets Rémi (Associate Professor, UBM) (political science) : The BRI in Xinjiang. The BRI and Chinese foreign policy in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
– De Bruyn Pierre-Henry (Associate Professor, LRUniv) (Chinese studies) : Linguistic pluralism along the Silk Roads: “64 languages to unify”.
– Labarbe Emmanuel (Certified Teacher, UBM): Chinese companies and their development strategies in the video-game sector.
– Loubes Jean-Paul (Retired Assistant Professor) (Anthropology): Spatial cultures on the Silk Roads – A look at the “long term”. Spatial strategies (urbanism, regional planning, models) conveyed by China in its projection on the Silk Roads.
– Meyer Eric (Specialist) (sociology, political science, history, economics): Self-sufficiency; Xinjiang.
– Peladan Damien (Associate Professor, UBM) (history): Maritime history; history of economic and diplomatic exchanges in the Middle Ages; history of East Asian piracy in the Middle Ages.
– Raibaud Martine (Associate Professor, LRUniv) (Chinese studies): Softpower and the influence of “Chinese values”.
– Rueda Frédérique (Professor, Bordeaux University)(law): People’s Republic of China and standards.
– Vendassi Pierre (Independent researcher) (sociology): Franco-Chinese cooperation.
– Waterman David (Professor, LRUniv) (literary studies): China-Pakistan relations.
– Winkler Florence (Associate Professor, LRUniv) (economics): ASEAN-China relations; ASEAN Economic Community; Implications of the Silk Roads for business.

Scientific events
– Round Table, “What normative interactions between Africa, Asia and Europe?” (Center for Global Studies (UIR Rabat), ACA2K, International Institute for Asian Studies), October 31, 2022, Rabat, Morocco -Study day “The Silk Roads: ancient strategies and challenges” (D2IA, CRHIA), November 25, 2022, La Rochelle
– Workshop, « Trends and Implications of China’s Deepening Engagement with the Wider Mediterranean Region » (EURICS, Torino World Affairs Institute, HKBU, IFRAE, D2IA, CeRMI), may the 16th 2022, online
– “Asia-Africa-Europe international interactions and dynamics exploratory workshop” (D2iA, TELEM, IIAS, University of Leiden, UIR, Sciences Po Rabat, Sciences Po Bordeaux), November 25-26, 2021, Bordeaux – « New Silk Roads. Impacts and receptions », IFRAE (INALCO), D2iA (UBM, LRUNiv), EURICS, 02/11/2020, INALCO, http://www.inalco.fr/actualite/nouvelles-routes-soie-receptions-impacts-territoriaux-belt-and-road-initiative-eurasie-2 – “Silk Roads and Belt and Road Initiative” panel (Asian Dynamics, Interactions and Interculturalities study day), D2iA (UBM, LRUNiv), November 11, 2019, Bordeaux.

Scientific collaborations
– Asia Africa Europe Interaction and Knowledge : International Institute for Asian Studies (Leiden), Sciences Po Rabat (International University of Rabat, University of Leiden), Asia Centre (Seoul National University), Kasetsart University (Thailand), UMR Les Afriques dans le monde, Groupe de recherche Les Afriques dans le monde, MSH Bordeaux
– BRImpact project : IFRAE (INALCO, CNRS), CeRMI (CNRS), Eurics (https://brirnet.hypotheses.org/)