Chinese Markets and Communities in Hungary: Social Capital, Multiculturalism and Inclusion

Absztrakt (kivonat)

This thesis mainly explores the situation of the Chinese markets in Budapest and their effect on Chinese communities and Hungarians. There are three main Chinese markets in Budapest. The thesis' core research questions are to determine whether the Chinese markets have an effect on the relationship between the two nations? Will Chinatowns grow around the Chinese markets? This thesis is divided into five parts: introduction, literature review, research methods, analysis and conclusion. First of all, I elicited the Chinese markets in Budapest, introduced the background of the Chinese diaspora and the development of the Chinatowns in the UK and the US, and then explored the causes and effects of the formation of a potential Chinatown in Hungary. In addition the thesis seeks to understand some racial events, Hungarian policy on Chinese immigrants, and explores the living conditions of Chinese immigrants or non-immigrates in Hungary by combination of the Push - Pull Theory, social capital (social network), emotional capital. The research also involved other sociological theories such as urban geography, urban sociology. I mainly adopted qualitative methods - ethnographical observation and individual interviews, and combined with SWOT analysis and literature in methodology. The interviewees included three Chinese managers, three Chinese customers and three Hungarian customers. I conclude with the view that Chinese markets are an economic and cultural bridge which connects two nations. Chinese markets may develop into Chinatowns.