Paper short abstract:

This paper shows that Chinese migrants in Prato are forced to come to terms with two opposing ideologies of transnational mobility prevailing in the areas of origin and of settlement.

Paper long abstract:

While prevailing discourses of globalization dictate an ideology of transnational mobility as a highly desirable path toward success, Prato, Italy stands as an exception. In Prato, highly mobile Chinese migrants are perceived as those that have heavily contributed to the decline the previously thriving industrial district.

This paper shows that Chinese migrants in Prato are forced to come to terms with two opposing ideologies of transnational mobility prevailing in the areas of origin and of settlement. The Chinese ideology of the successful migrant developed in the PRC from the mid 1990s values positively transnational mobility (Pieke et alii 2004, Barabantseva 2005). The hegemonic discourse in Prato instead depicts Chinese migrants mobility and their access to trans-local external economies as a negative value that threatens the industrial district, its culture and social cohesion (Dei Ottati 2009).

This paper focuses on the actors that in Prato shape the local construction and spread of discourses that influence a symbolic representation of (Chinese migrants) transnational mobility and transnational networks. While the hegemonic discourse frames definitions of problems specific to the city uniqueness, it also reflects concerns that circulate nationwide.

The cultural scene in Italy and Prato is in fact dominated by cultural products- an acclaimed movie, a national literary prize winner book - that transmit anger, fears and gloomy expectations that Chinese migrants transnational mobility combined with Chinese competitive industry will overcome natives businesses and the nation's main industry.