The Eurasians (Macanese) in Macau: The Neglected Minority

Abstract

This article examines the changing Eurasian (Macanese) community in Macau and the issues it confronts during the transition to 1999, when the territory will revert to the People`s Republic of China (PRC). Many Macanese feel that they have been neglected by both the Chinese and Portuguese governments and have become a political ”orphan” facing a harsh and uncertain future. This article examines the evolving relationship between the Macanese and Chinese communities, the Macanese role in local politics, the crisis of ethnic identity among the younger Macanese, Macanese attitudes toward the localization of civil service, and their trust or distrust of the Chinese government. Without rigorous measures to preserve Portuguese culture, this article argues, the Macanese community will sooner or later be assimilated by the dominant Chinese culture after 1999.