Transnational immanence: The autopoietic co-constitution of a Chinese spiritual organization through mediated communication

Pauline Cheong, Jennie M. Hwang, Boris H J M Brummans

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Information and communication technologies are often cited as one major source, if not the causal vector, for the rising intensity of transnational practices. Yet, extant literature has not examined critically how digital media appropriation affects the constitution of transnational organizations, particularly Chinese spiritual ones. To address the lack of theoretically grounded, empirical research on this question, this study investigates how the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (Tzu Chi), one of the largest Taiwan-based civil and spiritual nonprofit organizations among the Chinese diaspora, is co-constituted by various social actors as an operationally closed system through their mediated communication. Based on an innovative theoretical framework that combines Maturana and Varela's notion of 'autopoiesis' with Cooren's ideas of 'incarnation' and 'presentification', we provide a rich analysis of Tzu Chi's co-constitution through organizational leaders' appropriation of digital and social media, as well as through mediated interactions between Tzu Chi's internal and external stakeholders. In so doing, our research expands upon the catalogue of common economic and relational behaviors by overseas Chinese, advances our understanding of Chinese spiritual organizing, and reveals the contingent role of digital and social media in engendering transnational spiritual ties to accomplish global humanitarian work.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThe Internet, Social Networks and Civic Engagement in Chinese Societies
PublisherTaylor and Francis Inc.
Pages7-25
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9781317591146
ISBN (Print)9781138819788
StatePublished - Apr 14 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities
  • General Social Sciences

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