From the porous spaces on the bubble: the life and work of Japanese expatriate employees in Indonesia and their relations with the host society

This ethnographic study challenges the dominant view in the social science literature that expatriates live in a ‘bubble’ separated from host societies. An analysis of relations between Japanese and host national employees reveals the functional strength of structurally weak ties (Granovetter 1973) and highlights both ‘closure’ and ‘openness’ in interpersonal interactions. Applying the concepts of cosmopolitanism, social capital, and network theory, the thesis suggests that ties forged through face-to-face interactions in porous spaces on the bubble support the emergence of a latent transnational business/social community beyond national boundaries. This thesis contributes to the intersections of transnational and business studies.