Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

1995

Abstract

The embeddedness of entrepreneurs in local, regional or global business networks based on kinship, clanship, territorial or ethnic ties and solidarities has often been cited as characteristic of the Chinese business community in Southeast Asia. Qualitative interviews with Singaporean Chinese merchant-exporters were conducted in order to examine this thesis and shed light on the various "guanxi bases" of their international trading networks. The findings suggest that there is a strong tendency among these Singaporean entrepreneurs towards external commercial transactions with "outsiders" and "friends" rather than with "kin" whether by blood, marriage, or ascription. Kinship reciprocity may curb the autonomy and freedom of choice of these actors, limiting their economic options in regional and international marketplaces.

Keywords

Ethnic Chinese, entrepreneurs, businessmen, guanxi, Singapore

Discipline

Asian Studies | Business | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Organizational Behavior and Theory | Race and Ethnicity

Research Areas

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources

Publication

Internationales Asienforum

Volume

26

Issue

3-4

First Page

343

Last Page

364

ISSN

0020-9449

Identifier

10.11588/iaf.1995.26.1063

Publisher

Weltforum Verlag

Copyright Owner and License

Publisher

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.11588/iaf.1995.26.1063

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