In recent years, a growing number of Chinese youths have chosen to pursue degrees abroad, with many demonstrating an increased willingness to integrate into their host societies. An especially notable phenomenon within the Chinese international student (CIS) community in Australia has been their active involvement in local electoral campaigns—an engagement that extends beyond traditional academic or social integration. Our research aims to investigate this unique form of participation, exploring the motivations driving non-voting Chinese students to engage in Australian elections, the organisational methods political parties use to reach them, and the depth and nature of their involvement. Through this study, we hope to uncover insights into how and why Chinese students, despite lacking direct voting rights, are shaping their experiences and community ties in their host society by participating in political life.

The Lau China Institute hosts Ye Xue, Research Fellow at the University of Alberta for a presentation of his research chaired by Yanran Yao, Lecturer in Chinese Politics and Political Economy, Lau China Institute.

Registration is required for all external attendees. 

About the speakers

Ye Xue (薛野) is a research fellow at The China Institute, University of Alberta. He holds a PhD in International Relations from The University of Sydney. His research focuses on non-Western IR theory, nationalism, emotions in international politics, Chinese foreign policy, and Chinese international students’ political participation.

Yanran Yao (Chair) is a political scientist specialising in Chinese politics, civil society, and globalization. Before joining the Lau China Institute as a fixed-term lecturer, she has been teaching at the University of Hong Kong as a lecturer. She has extensive publications on journals including the Contemporary Journal of China. Her current research interests include Chinese diaspora community organizations and their roles in China’s overseas operations.