Mismatch and Detachment: Chinese International Students' Campus Electoral Participation in an Australian University

Abstract

Based on in-depth interviews with 51 Chinese international students at an Australian university, this article draws on descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis to elucidate the group's participation in Student Guild (Student Union) elections. The empirical findings demonstrate that—contrary to popular media perceptions—most Chinese international students are passive about participating in campus elections for two key factors. Firstly, many Chinese international students contend that the benefits of participating in these elections do not outweigh the direct and opportunity costs. Notably, some perceive that the required knowledge and skills for engaging in these elections do not align with their career development aspirations. Secondly, many Chinese international students who fundamentally lack an appreciation for the political values and institutions that underpin these elections tend to distance themselves from what they perceive as a flawed and meaningless practice. Instead of seeking to infiltrate these elections, they exhibit indifference and detachment.