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Building Halos: How do Chinese elites seek distinction through (mis) recognising studying abroad?

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  • Liu, Ye
  • Huang, Ying
  • Shen, Wenqin

Abstract

Why do Chinese elite graduates choose to study abroad? How do they construct boundaries of distinction? We first conceptualise distinction-making as a complex social process which connects individual agency and educational processes with organisational intermediaries. We use a case study of Peking University and draw upon original data consisting of 36 individual interviews, one-month documentation of a poster culture and observational data from eleven study-abroad events. We find a pattern of ‘building triple halos’, which encompasses dual processes of educational emulation and (mis-)recognition. By not recognising those from outside their ‘halos’ (i.e., elite schools, PKU and the Ivy League scholarship-holders), these elites signal superiority by gradually narrowing the circle of ‘us’ and excluding aspirational ‘others’. This individual level of distinction-making is coordinated with collective ‘consensus’, and organisational intermediaries in seeking, justifying, and (mis-)recognising studying abroad as a pathway to distinction. We further reveal the complexity of the ‘identities’ of the PKU elites as both possessors and challengers of distinction. During this process, the agents of the study-abroad industry not only consolidate their client base in PKU but also pursue a new business route of accommodating the challengers.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Ye & Huang, Ying & Shen, Wenqin, 2022. "Building Halos: How do Chinese elites seek distinction through (mis) recognising studying abroad?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:91:y:2022:i:c:s0738059322000396
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2022.102589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenney, Martin & Breznitz, Dan & Murphree, Michael, 2013. "Coming back home after the sun rises: Returnee entrepreneurs and growth of high tech industries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 391-407.
    2. Sarah L Holloway & Sarah L O'Hara & Helena Pimlott-Wilson, 2012. "Educational Mobility and the Gendered Geography of Cultural Capital: The Case of International Student Flows between Central Asia and the UK," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(9), pages 2278-2294, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Shuiyun & Liang, Wenyan & Zhang, Ying, 2023. "Brighter or the richer? Understanding Chinese college students’ choices to study abroad," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

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