Ethnic Subcontracting as an Impediment to Interethnic Coalitions: The Chinese Experience

Abstract

Examines labor organizing in New York City's Chinatown to argue that immigrants must overcome constraints from both within & without their communities before political mobilization can occur. It is maintained that economic exploitation, coupled with class divisions & conflicts within Chinatown, have incapacitated immigrant political mobilization. Chinese entrepreneurs often appeal to ethnic solidarity to persuade their employees not to organize unions or complain about poor working conditions. Their manipulation is made easier by the reality that most Chinese immigrants have to rely on ethnic networks to survive. The enormous difficulties resulting from language differences have allowed Chinese employers to convince their workers that American society is hostile & racist. In addition, Chinese immigrant workers have been incorporated into the American labor market as a separate entity, resulting in structural impediments to cross-ethnic alliances. It is concluded that Chinese immigrant workers will not improve their lowly position in the American labor market until they break out of the structure of the ethnic enclave that prevents the formation of interethnic coalitions. 11 References. J. Lindroth