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Language

English (en)

Date of Award

5-1-2012

Author's School

College of Arts & Sciences

Author's Department

International and Area Studies

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (A.B.)

Restricted/Unrestricted

Restricted

Abstract

The situation of the Chinese community in Chile intrigued me. Why is the community so “closed” and invisible? It’s definitely not because they have just arrived in Chile. Upon research I found out that in fact the Chinese community in Chile has existed for more than a hundred years, since Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia in the War of the Pacific in 1883 and gained new territories in the north, where many Chinese laborers resided. During the war over a thousand Chinese coolies in Peru fought with the Chileans during this war against the oppressive Peruvian hacienda owners, and greatly influenced the outcome of the war. Despite the long history of existence, however, the Chinese community in Chile remained in obscurity alien to mainstream Chile. They have very much been a part of Chilean society for over a hundred years, yet they are regarded as an undesirable and alien minority. Most Chilean news coverage on the Chinese Chileans focus on the Chinese restaurants’ unsanitary conditions and illegal business practices, constructing an image of a minority that harms the Chilean society, while failing to acknowledge the their long existence in the country.

Comments

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