On Wednesday, December 11, the 2024 Research Seminar on Chinese Malls took place, an interdisciplinary gathering dedicated to reflecting on the cultural and economic impact of the so-called "Chinese malls" in Chile and Latin America. The event, held in the Seminar Room of the UC Faculty of History, Geography, and Political Science, brought together academics, students, and the general public interested in understanding the sociocultural transformations associated with these commercial spaces.
The ICLAC Millennium Nucleus, the Observatory of Consumption, Culture, and Society (OCCS), the Chilean-Asian Project, the Department of Anthropology at Universidad Diego Portales, and the UC Center for Asian Studies organized the conference, which featured presentations on social dynamics, migrant networks, cultural representations, and the evolution of Chinese malls in different regional contexts.
Highlighted panels
The event began with welcome remarks by María Montt, ICLAC deputy director and professor of History at UC, followed by the first panel, which explored the spatial and temporal dynamics of Chinese malls in Santiago, Ñuble, and Lima. Liliana de Simone, a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, moderated the panel.
Researchers Rodrigo Hidalgo, Juan Correa, Benjamín Jara, Valentina Fuentes, and Nifta Lau (along with students Joaquín Peláez and Zuleyde Castro from Universidad del Pacífico, Peru) provided diverse perspectives on how these commercial centers have integrated into their respective environments, addressing topics such as economic competition, migrant networks, and social dynamics.
The second panel, "Chinese Malls: Representations of 'Chineseness' in Chile," was moderated by ICLAC researcher and UC Communications professor Claudia Labarca. It featured presentations by Antonia Guevara Iturbe, Jessica Sequeira, and, remotely, Berenice Ramos. These studies highlighted how these commercial spaces are hubs for economic exchange and cultural intersections, shaping narratives of identity and diversity.
Young researchers workshop
The afternoon concluded with a workshop for developing research projects, moderated by ICLAC researcher and UDP Anthropology professor Carol Chan. During this session, undergraduate students presented projects related to Chinese malls, fostering an academic space for dialogue and feedback.