The Chinese in Silicon Valley examines the complex and ever-growing role of Chinese American scientists and engineers in Silicon Valley. Globalization brings workers from many different countries and cultures together, impacting more than just their work environments. The Chinese who settle in Silicon Valley must learn to prosper despite changes in cultural identity, family life, and often citizenship. They learn how to utilize new social networks and make sense of a shifting ethnic identity. The Chinese community in Silicon Valley is being developed with the advantages and constraints of many factors: the new global economy, technology, the Chinese immigrants' traditional culture, and the American host culture. Bernard Wong shows that the formation of Chinese American ethnic identity and community is a result of this globalization and transnationalism. This informative book presents important new knowledge on the connection between Chinese ethnicity and highly-skilled labor and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley. Secondary statistical data combined with primary personal interview data makes this a detailed and interesting study of globalization, social networks, and ethnic identity.

"Wong's book is an excellent example of how ethnographic techniques and analyses can be applied to contemporary problems and populations. Furthermore, it is rather unique in its findings regarding globalization's effect on culture and social ties." - Anthropological Quarterly

"After five years of ethnographic research, Wong has produced a rich and thorough ethnography that details emergent forms of social networks, strategies of ethnic entrepreneurship, changes in community and family formation, and ethnic identity….A welcome addition to globalization and Chinese diaspora studies." - American Ethnologist