Sustaining “Chineseness” via Chinese clan associations: Youth and the reproduction of social capital
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp155-173Abstract
Background and Purpose: Traditional Chinese clan associations are often considered at risk in the face of rapidly developing technology and a shift away from traditional norms. Using Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (CSSYKL) as a case study, this paper explores how a centennial Cantonese ancestral clan association in Malaysia seeks to involve youth, and how the reproduction of social capital through youth participation contributes to its continued sustainability.
Methodology: This study collects data through fieldwork, participant observation, interview, and document review. Fieldwork was conducted at the clan house at Petaling Street, KL and observations were performed both physically and online. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 clan members using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework.
Findings: Data analysis reveals that youth serve as culture bearers, network builders, operational facilitators, and innovators in CSSYKL. While contributing to the effective functioning and sustainability of the clan association, youth benefit from the social capital developed through their participation. However, social capital can create barriers to inclusion and reinforce power imbalances within the clan association, limiting the potential of youth and openness of the organization.
Contributions: This study contributes to understanding the continuity of traditional clan associations in the 21st century, supported by youth’s participation. It highlights the cultural and social significance of clan associations in shaping youth’s cultural identity and social capital, as well as their impact on personal and communal life.
Keywords: Clan association, CSSYKL, social capital, clan identity, youth.
Cite as: Tang, Y. Y., Khalid, K. A. T. & Chan, R. S. K. (2025). Sustaining “Chineseness” via Chinese clan associations: Youth and the reproduction of social capital. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(1), 155-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp155-173
References
Adler, P. S., & Kwon, S. (2002). Social capital: Prospects for a new concept. Academy of Management Review, 27(1), 17-40.
Andriani, L. (2013). Social capital: A road map of theoretical frameworks and empirical limitations (Working Papers in Management). Birkbeck University of London.
Bekkers, R., Völker, B., van der Gaag, M., & Flap, H. (2008). Social networks of participants in voluntary associations. In N. Lin & B. H. Erickson (Eds.), Social capital: An international research program (pp. 185-205). Oxford University Press.
Benton, R. A. (2016). Uniters or dividers? Voluntary organizations and social capital acquisition. Social Networks, 44, 209-218.
Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook of theory and research for the sociology of education (pp. 241-258). Greenwood Press.
Bourdieu, P. (2018). Cultural reproduction and social reproduction. In R. Brown (Ed.), Knowledge, education, and cultural change: Papers in the sociology of education (pp. 71-112). Routledge.
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27-40.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research
in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Chan, R. S. K., & Khalid, K. A. T. (2019). Chan She Shu Yuen: The Cantonese ancestral clan in Malaysia as transnational social support network. Social and Education History, 9(1), 1-37.
Chan, R. S. K., Khalid, K. A. T., & Shamsul, A. B. (2024). From superdiversity to social difference: A critique of Vertovec’s paradigm shift. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8), 150-160.
Chan, S. C. (2003). Interpreting Chinese tradition: A clansmen organization in Singapore. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies, 5(1), 72-90.
CSSYKL. (2011). Chan She Shu Yuen 115th anniversary special issue 1896-2011. Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
CSSYKL. (2016). 120 years of Chan She Shu Yuen: Glory days relived. Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Association, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Sage Publications.
Chen, Y. (2022). The Confucian moral community of the clan association in the Chinese diaspora: A case study of the Lung Kong Tin Yee Association. Religions, 13(30), 1-14.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
DOSM. (2024). Current population estimates. Department of Statistics Malaysia. https://open.dosm.gov.my/publications/population_2024
Fan, H., Li, C., Xue, C., & Yu, M. (2023). Clan culture and patterns of industrial specialization in China. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 207, 457-478.
Green, G. P., & Haines, A. (2016). Asset building & community development (4th ed.). Sage.
Greif, A., & Tabellini, G. (2017). The clan and the corporation: Sustaining cooperation in China and Europe. Journal of Comparative Economics, 45(1), 1-35.
Han, S., Kim, H., & Lee, H.-S. (2011). Social capital and its association with health and well-being: An individual-level analysis in Seoul, South Korea. Korea Journal, 51(4), 132-161.
Huang, L., Ma, M., & Wang, X. (2022). Clan culture and risk-taking of Chinese enterprises. China Economic Review, 72, 101763.
Kuah-Pearce, K. E. (2006). The cultural politics of clan associations in contemporary Singapore. In K. E. Kuah-Pearce & E. Hu-Dehart (Eds.), Voluntary organizations in the Chinese diaspora (pp. 53-76). Hong Kong University Press.
Kwee, H. K. (2013). Chinese economic dominance in Southeast Asia: A “longue duree” perspective. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 55(1), 5-34.
Liew, K. B. (1998). 独立前华人乡团组织 [Pre-independence Chinese regional-based association]. In C. K. Lim, K. L. Ho, K. C. Hou & K. F. Lai (Eds.),《马来西亚华人史新编》（第三册） [A new history of Malaysian Chinese (Volume 3)] (pp. 347-378). The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia.
Lignier, P., Jarvis, D., Grainger, D., & Chaiechi, T. (2024). Spatial heterogeneity and subjective wellbeing: Exploring the role of social capital in metropolitan areas using multilevel modelling. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(52), 1-23.
Lu, W. H. (2024, December 30). From secret society to karaoke club: Malaysia’s Chinese clan associations fight to stay relevant. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/from-secret-society-to-karaoke-club-malaysias-chinese-clan-associations-fight-to-stay-relevant
Luo, R. Q. (2012). 马来西亚华人社团信息化建设的法律规制 [Legal regulation of information construction of Chinese associations in Malaysia]. 八桂侨刊 [Overseas Chinese Journal of Bagui], 2012(4), 30-34.
Morgan, H. (2022). Conducting a qualitative document analysis. The Qualitative Report, 27(1), 64-77.
Mu, G. M., & Pang, B. (2019). Interpreting the Chinese diaspora: Identity, socialisation, and resilience according to Pierre Bourdieu. Routledge.
Ng, Y. L. (2019). The changing role of Malaysian Chinese organizations in the construction of a cultural community of common destiny. Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies, 8(2), 11-24.
Ong, E. (2018, August 4). Are old school networks and family clan associations still relevant? The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/08/04/are-old-school-networks-and-family-clan-associations-still-relevant/
Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology. Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1-14.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon and Schuster.
Setijadi, C. (2016). ‘A beautiful bridge’: Chinese Indonesian associations, social capital and strategic identification in a new era of China-Indonesia relations. Journal of Contemporary China, 25(102), 822-825.
Shamsul, A. B. (1996). Debating about identity in Malaysia: A discourse analysis. Southeast Asian Studies, 34(3), 476-499.
Shamsul, A. B., & Chan, R. S. K. (2025). Consensus and contestation in the formation of Malaysian studies: A paradigmatic comparison. Kajian Malaysia, 43(1), 73-94.
Shao, C. (2018). 马来西亚华人人口变动历程、现状与趋势分析 [An analysis of the history, current situation and trend of the Chinese population changes in Malaysia].《华侨华人研究报告 (2018) (Annual report on overseas Chinese study (2018)). Social Sciences Academic Press.
Statista. (2024). Selected countries with the largest number of overseas Chinese 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/279530/countries-with-the-largest-number-of-overseas-chinese/
Tan, S.-K., & Tan, S.-H. (2020). Clan/geographical association heritage as a place-based approach for nurturing the sense of place for locals at a World Heritage Site. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 592-603.
Tuominen, M., & Haanpää, L. (2022). Young people’s well‑being and the association with social capital, i.e. social networks, trust and reciprocity. Social Indicators Research, 159, 617-645.
van Deth, J. W. (2008). Measuring social capital. In D. Castiglione, J. W. van Deth & G. Wolleb (Eds.), The handbook of social capital (pp. 150-176). Oxford University Press.
van Deth, J. W., Edwards, B., B˘adescu, G., Moldavanova, A., & Woolcock, M. (2016). Associations and social capital. In D. H. Smith R. A. Stebbins & J. Grotz (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of volunteering, civic participation, and nonprofit associations (pp. 178-197). Palgrave Macmillan.
Villalonga-Olives, E., & Kawachi, I. (2017). The dark side of social capital: A systematic review of the negative health effects of social capital. Social Science & Medicine, 194, 105-127.
Wang, A., He, K., & Zhang, J. (2022). The influence of clan social capital on collective biogas investment. China Agricultural Economic Review, 14(2), 349-366.
Warren, M. E. (2008). The nature and logic of bad social capital. In D. Castiglione, J. W. van Deth & G. Wolleb (Eds.), The handbook of social capital (pp. 122-149). Oxford University Press.
Wong, S. (2007). Partner or pariah? Building social capital with clan associations in Hong Kong. Chinese Sociology and Anthropology, 40(1), 54-71.
Yang, M. M.-H. (1994). Gifts, favors, and banquets: The art of social relationships in China. Cornell University Press.
Yeap, A. (2017, September 12). Chinese associations find it a challenge to attract youths. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/09/12/in-need-of-new-blood-chinese-associations-find-it-a-challenge-to-attract-youths/
