This book is the result of a very successful and quite long cooperation with my Chinese colleagues started in 2006 when I was Invited Professor at the Institute of Sociology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing) during one year. I would like to thank so warmly Li Peilin, Professor and Director of the Academic Division of Law, Social and Political Studies and Former Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing); we have long enjoyed rich and excellent scientific exchanges. The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (cnrs), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (cass) and the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon signed an agreement to jointly establish our International Associated Laboratory (lia)1 Post-Western Sociology in Europe and in China in 2013, in partnership with the department of sociology Beijing University, the department of sociology and political science of Shanghai University and the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Nanjing University. Professor Li Peilin and I are in charge of this laboratory for China and France respectively.
Many thanks are given to my colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Professors Chen Guangjin, Wang Chunguang, He Rong, Yang Yiyin, Li Chunling, Shi Yunqing, Luo Hongguang; at the Department of Sociology, Beijing University: Professors Xie Lizhong, Liu Shiding, Qu Jingdong, Qiu Zeqi, Liu Neng, Tong Xin and Sun Feiyu; at the School of Sociology and Political Sciences, Shanghai University: Professors Li Youmei, Zhang Wenhong, Liu Yuzhao, Ji Yingchun, Zhen Zhihong, and Dr Yan Jun; at the Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University: Professors Guo Yuhua and Shen Yuan; at the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University: Professors Chen Boqing, Fan Ke and Zhou Xiaohong; at the School of Social Development East China Normal University: Professors Wen Jun and Zhao Yeqin; at Tongji University Professors Zhe Weijue and Dr Chen Jin.
This book is also the result of several research programs I have conducted in China and in France, and of a long cooperation with Chinese sociologists since 2002:
- –Migration, segregation and disqualification in Chinese Cities with Shi Lu, University Jean Moulin in cooperation with Shi Xiuyin, Institute of sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking, financed by Department of International Cooperation, cnrs and msh Rhône-Alpes (2002–2005).
In Shanghai, 140 biographical interviews were conducted with young low-skilled Chinese migrants in agricultural product markets, shops and restaurants, construction and furniture manufacturing companies. - –Work and globalisation in China: mobility and cooperation in French enterprises in China and joint-ventures with Tang Jun, Polytechnic University of Peking, financed by French Ministry of Labour and Employment (2006–2008).
Within the framework of this program 85 biographical interviews were conducted with young migrant workers in the automobile industry in Wuhan, 62 biographical interviews were conducted with young migrant men and women employed in retail companies in Beijing and Harbin, 40 biographical interviews were with young migrant cleaning women in the hotel sector in Wuhan
- –Young skilled Chinese migrants and work in Paris, Lyon and Shanghai cmira Program, financed by the Rhône-Alpes Region in cooperation with Zhen Zhihong and Yan Jun, School of Political Science and Sociology, Shanghai University (2012–2015)
Within the framework of this program, quantitative and qualitative surveys—including 50 biographical interviews—were carried out in companies in Shanghai with 150 young Chinese migrant graduates. In France, quantitative and qualitative surveys of 84 young graduated Chinese migrants—including 43 biographical interviews—were conducted in companies in Paris and Lyon.
- –Young Chinese migrants, subaltern work and urban competencies in China, Program financed by the Rhône-Alpes Region with Béatrice Zani, Triangle, ens Lyon (2015-2019)
Within the framework of this program 40 biographical interviews were conducted with young female migrant workers and young migrant workers in Shanghai, Ningbo and Zhongshan.
- –International migration and global economies in Yiwu, Program idex University of Lyon (2017–2021) with Marie Bellot and Li Yong, Triangle, and in cooperation with Zhao Yeqin, ecnu (Shanghai) in the framework of the joriss Program. Within the framework of this program, the realisation of migratory and professional careers were carried out with 35 young Chinese entrepreneurs and traders and 25 young entrepreneurs from the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, sub-Saharan Africa etc.
Map of China
source: nations online project, nationsonline.org
In 2021 the LIA has changed of name and is called International Advanced Laboratory (IAL).