Face and Favours: Network Norms among Chinese Migrants and Non-Migrants in Australia

The few theoretical studies comparing guanxi (interpersonal relationships) and social capital suggest that both network types are based on norms of trust and reciprocity, but guanxi is also underpinned by strong and recognisable normative dynamics of renqing (reciprocity) and face. However, there has been little empirical investigation into these differences. We compare networking practices among Australian Chinese migrants (ACMs) and Australian non-migrants (ANMs) via qualitative interviews, showing: (i) ACMs and ANMs use strong and weak ties differently due to normative differences; (ii) ACMs initiate guanxi dynamics with ANMs whenever possible, but ANMs lack cultural knowledge for reciprocation; and (iii) ACMs' connections to non-Chinese people are consequently not guanxi-based, but grounded in Western social capital.