Rural cosmopolitanism at the frontier? Chinese farmers and community relations in northern Queensland,c.1890–1920

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of Chinese settlers in the Cairns district of northern Queensland, Australia, at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as a potential early expression of a 'rural cosmopolitanism' that has more recently been associated in the geographical literature with contemporary international migration. In contrast to other parts of Australia, where Chinese immigration was associated with mining and with racial tensions and segregation, Chinese settlers around Cairns tended to be farmers and store-keepers, and contemporary accounts hint at a degree of tolerance and cross-community interaction that suggests an early form of rural cosmopolitanism. Moreover, the mobilities and aspirations of the Chinese migrants prefigure those of present-day 'cosmopolitan' migrants, whilst the discourses of anti-Chinese agitators are echoed in the concerns, fears and prejudices of current anti-immigration sentiments. Drawing on in-depth archival research, the paper documents the dynamics, experiences and relationships of Chinese settlers and debates concerning their presence, from the 1880s to the depletion of the community in the 1910s under pressure from anti-Chinese legislation. In so doing, the paper seeks to draw lessons from this historical perspective for our understanding of international migration to rural areas, and for the possibilities for rural cosmopolitanism in the twenty-first century.

International Labour Migration and Food Production in Rural Europe: A Review of the Evidence

“…The above discussion underlines the point that there are limits to ‘rural cosmopolitanism’ (Popke ; Woods ) and whilst tolerance and integration of sorts is often evident across rural Europe, this comes with expectations. Torres et al .…”

“…); the related use of political economy (Rogaly ) and segmented labour market (Hoggart and Mendoza ; Rye ) perspectives; Scott's () elaboration of Harvey's concept of the ‘spatial fix’; the use of gender theory (e.g., Mannon et al . ; Hellio ; Kilkey and Urzi ); Goffman and social identity theory (McAreavey ; ), transnationalism (e.g., Andrzejewska and Rye ; Hedberg and Do Carmo ); rural cosmopolitanism (Popke ; Schech ; Woods ); and, theories of rural transformation (Rye ).…”

“…Moreover, these examples usually come from seasonal horticulture with other areas of agriculture, and also food processing, relatively neglected in the European literature. Further, whilst migrant/minority presence in rural areas is not an entirely new phenomenon (Bressey ; McConnell and Miraftab ; Woods ) the review is largely focused on contemporary cases.…”

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“…The allocation of rural land resources, especially the utilization of residential areas, has become the focus of the government and academia. How to promote the rational and orderly utilization of residential areas and reduce the waste of rural land resources and project investment have become important issues in the implementation of rural revitalization strategies in the new era [6][7][8].…”

Study on the Level and Type Identification of Rural Development in Wuhan City’s New Urban Districts

“…The emergence of the current post-urban world has a fundamental change in urban-rural relations, also accompanying rural issues, which include rural decline, rural depopulation and exodus, land abandonment, rural poverty and environmental pollution in deteriorating countrysides, have swept both developing and developed countries, as well as hindered rural sustainability [7]. Rural restructuring has been identified in Western Europe and North America [8][9][10], but for most developing countries like China, India and Brazil, rural area remains the most important inhabitation areas, and the issues of rural development have always been a matter of close attention and committed to improving by governments [11,12]. The study of rural development is helpful to comprehend the spatial differentiation of rural areas and it is critical for guiding the rural transformation and reconstruction.…”