Penetration and Expansion of Multi-Networks: A Study on the Interactive Relationship between Overseas Chinese and Their Hometowns in Minnan and Yue regions

Author: Zheng Yisheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: It is a great pleasure to write the preface for Dr. Zheng Yisheng's book, "Open to All." Because of a three-year special bond I share with him, I have a deeper understanding of both him and the precursor to this work—his doctoral dissertation. Dr. Zheng Yisheng's monograph, building on the "Network Theory" of predecessors, proposes the concept of a "multi-layer network" encompassing rural areas in Fujian and Guangdong and overseas Chinese and. By integrating it with practical realities, he elaborates on its historical and contemporary significance, as well as the patterns of mutual penetration and expansion. Thus, he conducts in-depth quantitative analyses of the transformation in the interactive relationship structure between overseas Chinese and their hometowns, summarizes and synthesizes the institutional changes in hometowns, and discusses the long-term nature of the interaction between overseas Chinese and hometowns, all of which lead to convincing conclusions.
The term "network" is an anthropological and sociological concept that originates from the academic tradition of structuralism. From an anthropological and sociological perspective, a network is essentially a form of social relationship that connects individuals, strata, organizations, groups, and other entities in a certain way. It also represents a relatively stable pattern of interpersonal interactions over time. The types of multi-layer networks can be categorized into economic and non-economic networks. From the perspective of their manifestations, multi-layer networks can be further divided into horizontal networks, vertical networks, loose networks, and hybrid networks.