12TH ISSCO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025

BACKGROUND

ISSCO, the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas, was established in 1992. Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore, was appointed President and Professor Wang Ling-chi, Department of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley, Secretary-Treasurer together with a number of regional Board members. 

ISSCO is a scholarly, non-political, non-profit professional society of individuals and institutions interested in and committed to the study of Chinese overseas. The primary purposes of the society are to advance research and scholarly exchange in the study of Chinese overseas, to provide means for research and publications, and to organise and support national and international conferences. 

ISSCO's International conference is a major activity of ISSCO hosted by various academic institutions in different countries. The papers presented at these conferences comprise all academic fields related to the study of the Chinese overseas. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya in collaboration with the International Society for the Study of the Chinese Overseas (ISSCO), is proud to host the 12th ISSCO International Conference 2025, to be held at the Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur on 4-6 November 2025.

INTRODUCTION OF THEME
 

The conference will explore the theme of, “Chinese Overseas in a Changing World: Global Networks, Local Realities”.

The global diasporic experiences of Chinese overseas communities, spanning their transitions from migrant groups to citizens of their respective countries and subsequent patterns of remigration, have provided rich examples of interconnected global networks. The rise of China and the influx of new migrants in recent decades have further diversified and enriched these experiences. However, as these communities settled into various localities across different historical and cultural contexts, the processes of localization led to distinct and varied trajectories.

 

This conference will explore the dynamic interplay between global networks and local realities, examining how Chinese overseas communities have navigated transnational connections while adapting to the unique socio-political and cultural landscapes of their host societies.

 

The Organizing Committee of the 12th ISSCO International Conference 2025 invites submissions for this upcoming conference. Scholars and researchers across various disciplines are welcome to submit proposals for papers and panels that address the conference’s main theme and sub-themes.

Sub-Themes (including but not limited to):

• Migration and Settlements
• Identity
• Globalisation and Deglobalisation
• Research Methodology on Chinese Overseas
• Politics and Nation-States
• Chinese Cultural Heritage
• Chinese Beliefs and Religions
• Languages and Dialects
• Literature and Translation
• Hybridity
• Business Networks
• Architecture and Urbanisation