Dual Mobilization: Chinese Progressive Activism in the U.S. at the Intersection of Racial and Diasporic Politics

• In Event: 30282 - Transnational Solidarities for Racial Justice

Abstract

This paper examines Chinese activism in the U.S. that simultaneously engages with Asian American progressive movements and Chinese diaspora democracy advocacy, positioning activists in opposition to both American right-wing politics and conservative co-ethnic actors. Drawing on 30 months of participant observation, 60 in-depth interviews, and analysis of organizational materials from four progressive Chinese activist groups in New York City, this study identifies three core tensions these activists face. First, activists struggle to balance their critique of the Chinese state with avoiding the reinforcement of right-wing anti-China sentiment that deepens their racialization in the U.S. Second, they encounter resistance from multiple directions: conservative Chinese activists question their solidarity with marginalized communities impacted by U.S. imperialism, seeing these communities as either irrelevant to their China-focused critique or even aligned with the Chinese state; nationalist Chinese co-ethnics reject both their China-critical stance and U.S.-focused progressive activism. Third, these activists navigate tensions between their progressive self-identification and being perceived as conservative due to their critique of China, requiring them to continually affirm their progressive credentials across diverse political contexts. By theorizing how activists navigate these challenges, this research advances our understanding of immigrant political engagement within the context of global power rivalry. It reveals how political categories like “progressive” and “conservative” acquire relative meanings as they traverse national boundaries. This case offers insights into immigrant activism amid U.S.-China tensions and the resurgence of right-wing politics, contributing to broader discussions on immigrant political incorporation, immigrant conservatism, and transnational activism.

Author

• Yung-Ying Chang, Rutgers University-New Brunswick