Between multiculturalism and assimilation: Cultural ‘homelessness’ of the Chinese diaspora

Abstract This article examines the concept of cultural homelessness among the Chinese diaspora, a condition shaped by the tension between multiculturalism and assimilation. Drawing on qualitative interviews with twenty-six individuals across Australia, North America, and Southeast Asia, the study explores how Chinese migrants and their descendants navigate cultural identity, belonging, and exclusion in diverse host societies. The findings reveal that while multiculturalism allows for the retention of heritage, it does not fully mitigate the psychological and social dislocation experienced by many. Conversely, assimilationist policies often pressure migrants to abandon their cultural roots, further intensifying their sense of alienation. By engaging with theories of hybridity, transnationalism, and acculturation, this article situates cultural homelessness within broader migration debates. It highlights the complex negotiation of identity, where diasporic individuals exist in a liminal space—belonging neither entirely to their ancestral homeland nor fully to their host society.