The role of urban nightlife in perceived social integration: Perspectives of international students in Nanjing

Abstract

This paper intends to bridge the gap between work on social integration, nightlife and students, bringing education studies and sociology together through geography and qualitative analysis of nightlife experiences and perceived social integration of international students in Nanjing. The variation in socio-spatial practices among domestic and international students in different nightlife venues is revealed with the help of mapping, and interview data on nightlife, social network and satisfaction of living in the Chinese context is analysed transcribed verbatim and coded. The nightlife offers a space where encounters with, or even being around, different people can create a sense of satisfaction across people from different backgrounds or co-ethnic community. While most nightlife doesn't enable international students to interact and make friends with domestic students for a lack of educational or entertainment purpose in those nightlife activities. Besides, sticking with co-ethnic fellows in nightlife leads to more separation. Finally, the analysis suggests that further studies should consider perceived social integration more as a dynamic process and evaluate from longitudinal perspective.