Desire and the making of the mobile subject: China as destination for international students from the west

A significant body of scholarship on international student mobility (ISM) has predominantly examined migration flows from the 'non-West' to the 'West', often focusing on strategic mobility undertaken by relatively privileged individuals seeking cultural capital. This study shifts the focus to an underexplored flow - the movement of Western students pursuing undergraduate degrees in China - and their emotional, non-strategic motivations. Drawing on interviews with international students from Anglophone and European countries, the paper employs the conceptual lens of desire to unpack the multi-faceted motivations and aspirations underpinning this emerging pattern of ISM. The findings illuminate that personal, emotional, and intangible considerations play a significant role in shaping these decisions, challenging the conventional emphasis on economic and strategic factors. Yet, these motivations remain closely linked to broader processes of social and cultural reproduction, as reflected in mobile young people's everyday experiences. By examining these alternative drivers, the paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of ISM, highlighting the interplay between desire and the making of mobile subjects.