No place like home? Self‐initiated expatriates in their ancestral homeland

Abstract

This qualitative study examines an increasingly visible group of self‐initiated expatriates who, though foreign in nationality, share a common ancestry and ethnicity with most citizens of their host country. In particular, we explore the motivations behind the decision to seek employment in such countries and both work and non‐work adjustment. Drawing on interviews with 28 Malaysian self‐initiated expatriates of Chinese ethnicity currently working in China, the study suggests that, despite ancestral connections, these expatriates were motivated to work in China purely for financial and career‐related reasons. However, contrary to what some of the literature suggests, ancestral and cultural ties were hugely significant when it came to adjustment, with the expatriates’ fluency in the national language and adherence to certain cultural traditions contributing to successful adjustment both in and outside the workplace. Based on our findings, we put forward three propositions and a conceptual model to guide future research.

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