Anthem Press Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Modern China: A Case Study of the Influence of Christian Ethics on Business Life (Key Issues in Modern Sociology)

Inspired by Max Weber’s thesis on the Protestant ethic, ‘Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Modern China’ sets out to understand the role and influence of Christianity on Overseas Chinese businesspeople working in contemporary China. Through its in-depth interviews and participant observations (involving 60 Overseas Chinese entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and the United States), the text discusses how Christianity has come to fulfill an increasingly visible and dynamic function in the country, most notably as a new source of business morality. Review “The book’s tightly interwoven threads of theory and empirical scrutiny combine to produce a readable and stimulating work […] At the outset, the theoretical orientation of the book is established in a discussion of the complex debate about the relationship between religion and economics and a framing of the study in explicitly Weberian terms […the book] connects constantly with issues of broad theoretical significance and most crucially with a nuanced interpretation of Weber’s economic sociology.” ―Michael Hill, “Journal of Contemporary Religion” “[This] study is a welcome first exploration of a series of fascinating, understudied subjects.” ―Carsten T. Vala, “China Journal”  “The topic explored in this volume is fascinating, particularly in light of China’s rapid transformation from a planned socialist economy into a capitalist system connected to the world. […] ‘Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Modern China’ takes a step towards making sense of how religious values shape business behaviour in reform era China. It is significant in highlighting the religious life of the overseas Chinese and in illuminating the new ties they are forming with a cultural homeland that was, until very recently, inaccessible.” ―Sin Wen Lau, “Asian Studies Review” “[T]his carefully executed case study provides several well-stated interesting findings, which should not be missed by those who are interested in Overseas Chinese, Christianity in China, and economic behaviors related to religious values.” ―Ke-Hsien Huang, “Journal of Chinese Religions” Review “Exploring relationships between Christianity and Chinese entrepreneurial endeavors, this meticulously researched study will be an informative, significant and engrossing book for anyone with the slightest interest in religion, economic development and/or contemporary China. I’m sure Weber would have enjoyed it.” ―Professor Eileen Barker, London School of Economics “Joy Tong not only captures the dynamism of the Chinese economy today, but also the importance of Christianity in China as a social force and an economic driver. ‘Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Modern China’ is a fascinating case study of a compellingly interesting topic.” ―Professor Jack Barbalet, Head of Sociology, Hong Kong Baptist University “This well-written and carefully argued book deepens the research on Weber’s Protestant ethic thesis, creatively examining the impacts of religious motivations, ethics and networks on the economic behaviors of Overseas Chinese businesspeople in China, and challenging the presumptuous but unproven claims of Confucian values for the economic miracles in East Asia.” ―Professor Fenggang Yang, Purdue University Book Description Examines the influence of Christianity on overseas Chinese entrepreneurs working in modern China. About the Author Joy Kooi-Chin Tong is Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University, and was previously a postdoctoral research associate at the Center on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue University, USA.