Research seminar: A Diasporic Thorn in the Side of Empire: Chinese Migrant Networks vs. South African Indenture

Following British annexation of the Transvaal in South Africa more than 60,000 Chinese workers were indentured to labour in the colony’s gold mines between 1904-1910. Yet as soon as mining recruiters arrived in China, they found themselves the target of a widespread popular campaign against them. This paper uncovers the story of the subversive transnational movement behind this campaign. In fact, it began in the Transvaal itself, where the persecuted local Chinese community took the opportunity provided by the mining scheme to publicize their grievances, protect their kin from exploitation, and throw a wrench into the works of empire.

Nicholas McGee (Durham University) is a specialist in Late Imperial and Modern Chinese History, who received his PhD from the University of Toronto. His research places China in global history, using diaspora as a method for turning the study of Chinese history outward and bringing world history into China. In particular, his work focuses on untangling the intertwined histories of Chinese mobilities and European imperialism in the 18^th through 20^th centuries.

This paper features a response from postgraduate researcher Anqi Gao.