Diaspora and transnationalism

The Decline of Pan-Indian Identity and the Development of Tamil Cultural Separatism in Singapore, 1856-1965

by John Solomon

Published in South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 35:2, 257-281

This paper explores the rise and fall of pan-Indianism as the dominant identity narrative amongst the Indian diaspora... more This paper explores the rise and fall of pan-Indianism as the dominant identity narrative amongst the Indian diaspora in Singapore in the mid twentieth century, and its replacement with a normative Indian identity based primarily on Tamil culture. It will analyse some of the reasons why a Tamil cultural separatism came to dominate negotiations of ethnic identity in early post-war Singapore. This will include an examination of colonial ethnographic representations, the effects of demographic trends in Indian migration to Malaya during the colonial period, transnational political linkages between Singapore and India, and the effects of the Japanese occupation on Indian identity during World War II. The paper will also focus on the growth of the Tamil reform movement and the ways in which it came to shape the framing of Tamil ethnic identity in Singapore.

Discursive grouping in a virtual forum: Dialogue, difference, and the “Intercultural”

by Saskia Witteborn

Slavery and Colonialism: The Worst Terrorism on Africa

by Mohamed Eno

Co-authored with Omar A. Eno, Mohamed H. Ingiriis, and Jamal M. Haji; Published in African Renaissance, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2012.

Humans need not justify terrorism of any kind, regardless of whether one is Muslim, Christian or Jew, because it is... more Humans need not justify terrorism of any kind, regardless of whether one is Muslim, Christian or Jew, because it is the axis of evil and devastation of mankind. However, the deliberate use of the term terrorism in recent decades was carefully selected, mainly, against a certain religion (Islam). The idea was then globally politicized by the Western world. Leaving that scholarly view in its own right, we disagree with the opinion raising terrorism as the devil’s just-born child of evil, when in reality Africans had been terrorized for centuries as slaves and human chattel. Hence the basis for the concept of this thesis: conceptualizing the episode of ‘terrorism’ and ‘terrorist’ from the broader perspective of its practice from the Middle Passage or the Atlantic Slave Trade. To portray that argument and broaden the scope of the debate over this critically sensitive subject, we divided the discussion into three sections: an examination of what constitutes terrorism and terrorist; history of terrorism and terrorists from an Africa perspective; and the ideological constraints within the subject of terrorism as practiced by the US and its Western allies.

“Traditions, Trajectories and Transformative Migrations: The Multifarious Diasporic Contextualities of Nair, Nazareth and Vassanji’s Fictions.” Journal of the African Literature Association 6.2 (Winter 2011/Spring 2012): 61-82.

by Aaron L. Rosenberg

The fictions of Moyez G.Vassanji, Mira Nair and Peter Nazareth
represent a crucial commodity. These two writers... more The fictions of Moyez G.Vassanji, Mira Nair and Peter Nazareth
represent a crucial commodity. These two writers and one filmmaker’s works are manifestly utilitarian in our attempt as literary scholars and citizens of the world to understand what is meant by the ‘African Diaspora.’ Their narratives interrogate the racialized and divisive accounts of East Africans that consciously
and chauvinistically self – define as African or Asian. While all of the texts make clear that there is a certain risk involved in attempting to construct systems of identity formation along syncretic lines, they also make explicit the dangers of the formation and defense of exclusive communities based on skin color. These artists are attempting, and succeeding in exploding the myth of a monolithic racial imperative for African cultural citizenship. This myth of racial uniformity as a prerequisite for African authenticity has been constructed and exploited by
members of numerous ethnic communities throughout East Africa at one time or another in order to further their political or economical goals (Gregory: 161).What the artists dealt with in this paper are seeking to do is to counteract such immutable inscriptions of identity and concomitant allegiance and, in their own cases to reinscribe their self – identificatory auras with an identity which can best be described as “Afro-Asian.’ The immediate importance of this endeavor is illustrated by the historical atrocities and terrorism visited upon Afro –Asians
by their fellow countrymen. The seemingly unquestioning or ambivalent attitude of the academic community toward these questions represents, albeit through an absence of discursive activity rather than an excess of aggression, a serious
impediment to an understanding of the realities of cultural diversity in East African contexts. These Afro-Asian diasporic narratives can illuminate such situations and broaden our understanding of what it means to be ‘African’ in East Africa.

Sojourners, Gangxi and Clan Associations: Social Capital and Overseas Chinese Tourism to China

by Alan A. Lew

With Alan Wong. Published in D. Timothy and T. Coles, eds., (2004) Tourism, Diasporas and Space, pp. 202-214. London: Routledge.

Unlike traditional forms of economic capital, human capital, or cultural capital (all of which relate to attributes of... more Unlike traditional forms of economic capital, human capital, or cultural capital (all of which relate to attributes of individuals), social capital is situated in the quality of relationships and is not easily quantifiable or measured (Mohan and Mohan 2002). Friendship and goodwill are examples of this. They are best created through face-to-face interactions and they become resources when “mobilized to facilitate action” (Adler and Kwon 2002). Tourism can be used to enhance social capital by bringing people together in face-to-face interactions that can, in properly structured circumstances, lead to mutually beneficial relationships. Belief in this aspect of tourism underlies support for sustainable tourism approaches and ecotourism product developments, as well as broader assertions of tourism as a force for intercultural understanding and global peace-making . Unfortunately, few tourist experiences actually achieve the goal of creating social capital, even if the capital is as amorphous as understanding and peace.

Whose Day Is It Anyway? St. Patrick's Day as a Contested Performance of National and Diasporic Irishness

by Marc Scully

One of the more intriguing aspects of St. Patrick's Day celebrations as a nationalised ritual of a performed... more One of the more intriguing aspects of St. Patrick's Day celebrations as a nationalised ritual of a performed Irishness, both within and outside Ireland, is the extent to which it represents a dialogue between territorialised and diasporic expressions of Irish identity, and claims of belonging to Irishness. St. Patrick's Day celebrations in English cities are a particularly intriguing example of this contestation, due to the proximity of the two countries and the historical structural and cultural constraints on the public performance of Irish identity in England, as well as their more recent reinvention within celebratory multiculturalism. This article examines how debates around the authenticity of St. Patrick's Day parades in English cities are employed in the identity work of individual Irish people. In doing so, it provides insight on the tensions between Irishness as transnational, diasporic, and ethnic, as experienced in England.

Conference: British Art as International Art, 1851 to 1960

by Kate Aspinall

Members of the University of East Anglia’s World Art Studies and Museology Department Greg Salter, Kitty Hudson, Rosanna Eckersley and Kate Aspinall are organising the graduate symposium 'British Art as International Art, 1851 to 1960' on Friday the 20th and Saturday the 21st of April (programme available on website).

Keynote speakers:

Emma Chambers of Tate Britain, presenting “Migrations: Émigré Artists in British Art”, and Michael Hatt of the University of Warwick, presenting “From New England to Nowhere: Edward Carpenter, Fred Holland Day and the Dream of Placelessness”

Registration:

The symposium is free, but spaces are limited, so please register before 2nd April, either by emailing the organisers at britartinternational@gmail.com or on the website: http://www.uea.ac.uk/art/ events-news/event

Unlocking the Potential of the Kashmiri Diaspora in the Big Society for Development and Just Peace

by Sardar Aftab Khan

The people of Jammu and Kashmir are homogeneous in their broader national and territorial identity, but very diverse... more The people of Jammu and Kashmir are homogeneous in their broader national and territorial identity, but very diverse in their cultural, linguistic and racial identities. The Kashmiri diaspora has always been recognised for their qualitative strength of mutual cooperation, self-help support mechanisms and strong links with their place of origin through family structures, business and inheritance interests in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, the
quantitative strength, contribution and capacity of the Kashmiri diaspora to influence change in the development of their chosen places of abode and origin needs recognition and in-depth
study to unlock their real potential.
This paper will identify the common bonds of identity and traditions of those people in UK whose ethnic heritage comes from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The paper will further
look at the impact of the non-recognition and non-inclusion of the Kashmiri community in British ethnic monitoring systems at the national level and ask how this will influence their
social mobility.
The paper particularly focuses on their role as a diaspora community and explores what role the Kashmiri diaspora leadership plays in community development in the ‘big’ society and what strategies they employ to influence policy and change in their current places of abode and in Jammu Kashmir? Therefore, the Kashmiri diaspora community in the United Kingdom will be the community of interest as a case study in this paper for the broader question of diaspora
engagement for development and peace.

The European Context of the Greek Great Idea: The suggestions of a Greek Newspaper in London [Vretanikos Astir (The British Star), 1860-1862)

by Elpida Vogli

published in the Proceedings of the 26th Hellenic Historical Conference, (Thessaloniki, 28-29 May 2005), Thessaloniki, pp. 143-154 (in Greek)

Cree Contraband or Contraband Crees? Early Montanan Experiences with Transnational Natives and the Formation of Lasting Prejudice, 1880-1885

by Brenden Rensink

Viewing identity: Second-generation Korean American ethnic identification and the reception of Korean transnational films

by David Oh

Communication, Culture, & Critique, 2011; The first of three papers adapted from my dissertation, and the second-place faculty paper award winner for the Asian/Pacific American Division of NCA

Despite the growing importance of transnational flows of heritage media for second-generation Asian Americans, there... more Despite the growing importance of transnational flows of heritage media for second-generation Asian Americans, there is little research that investigates this relationship. This study focuses on second-generation Korean American adolescents' reception of transnational Korean media as influenced by their ethnic identity formation. It builds greater understanding of a specific Asian American ethnic group, informs ethnic identity formation research, furthers understanding of transnational Korean films, and furthers understanding of second-generation Asian Americans' reception of media. The primary finding of this study is that ethnic identity formation is a socializing force for second-generation Korean Americans that shapes their reception of transnational Korean films.

Folkdancing into oblivion: boosting youth participation in ethnic community festivals

by Linda Kalejs

Unpublished Masters Thesis, School of Management and Marketing, Deakin University, November 2011

Abstract:
The Australian Latvian Arts Festival has, since the 1990s, experienced a steady decline in youth... more Abstract:
The Australian Latvian Arts Festival has, since the 1990s, experienced a steady decline in youth audience participation. The Latvian refugee migrant community, arriving in Australia post-WWII, has annually celebrated its cultural heritage, with community elders passing on folk traditions to younger generations, since the inaugural Festival in 1951. The engagement of youth has been instrumental to the festival's existence, however with an aging demographic, lack of programming appeal, the community’s reluctance to accept change, and competing youth leisure demands, the Festival is facing a grim future. With research sparse in the area of ethnic community events management in a well-established diasporic migrant setting, this current research bridges the gap and attempts to understand, and provide strategic thinking around the issues and barriers for youth festival audiences and the volunteer organisers.

This thesis is a study of barriers to youth attendance at the Australian Latvian Arts Festival 2010, investigating strategies employed by voluntary community festival board members to boost attendance, providing practical recommendations to resolve the emergent disconnect between the strategies and barriers. Research design included qualitative analysis of interview data with youth aged 18-25 and Board members, using a grounded theory approach to assist in the development of new theory. Gathered interview data was triangulated with literature analysis based on policy documents, and the Festival’s online web presence and print programme. Research findings indicate there are significant barriers to youth attendance which are specific to an ethnic migrant diaspora setting, and that strategies initiated by the Board do not address these. Challenges faced by the Board in a voluntary community setting are also discussed, with findings of particular significance to upcoming Festival Directors in the areas of youth audience development, programme development and marketing. Final recommendations have a practical application for future Latvian Arts Festivals, as well as similar diaspora migrant community festivals in Australia and internationally.

14.The Vatican of the diaspora

by Jan Blommaert

Feeling diasporic

by Lauren Wagner

Available in the Tilburg Papers in Cultural Studies, #21

The Legal Adaptation of British Settlers in Turkey

by Derya Bayir

This article is based on a fieldwork project conducted by the authors in the Muğla region of western Turkey. The... more This article is based on a fieldwork project conducted by the authors in the Muğla region of western Turkey. The region is the locale for a significant level of settlement by British people, within the wider context of settlement by groups of other EU nationals in western Turkey. Based on a series of interviews with British settlers and Turkish locals, it examines the factors which affect the process of legal adaptation of the former group. It identifies and discusses the place of British settlers within the larger Turkish legal order, their integration into Turkish life, and the extent to which different socio-legal disabilities and advantages affect this process. The article also casts some light on the extent to which, given the level of British immigration into the area, Turkish officialdom is prepared for their presence.

The tyranny of transnational discourse: ‘authenticity’ and Irish diasporic identity in Ireland and England

by Marc Scully

'Early View' version in Nations and Nationalism. The original version of this article was the winner of the 2011 ASEN/Dominique Jacquin-Berdal Essay Prize.

Through the prism of current state discourses in Ireland on engagement with the Irish diaspora, this article examines... more Through the prism of current state discourses in Ireland on engagement with the Irish diaspora, this article examines the empirical merit of the related concepts of ‘diaspora’ and ‘transnationalism’. Drawing on recent research on how Irish identity is articulated and negotiated by Irish people in England, this study suggests a worked distinction between the concepts of ‘diaspora’ and ‘transnationalism’. Two separate discourses of authenticity are compared and contrasted: they rest on a conceptualisation of Irish identity as transnational and diasporic, respectively. I argue that knowledge of contemporary Ireland is constructed as sufficiently important that claims on diasporic Irishness are constrained by the discourse of authentic Irishness as transnational. I discuss how this affects the identity claims of second-generation Irish people, the relationship between conceptualisations of Irishness as diasporic within Ireland and ‘lived’ diasporic Irish identities, and implications for state discourses of diaspora engagement.

The Legal Adaptation of British Settlers in Turkey

by Prakash Shah

Co-authored with Dr. Derya Bayir

This article is based on a fieldwork project conducted by the authors in the Muğla region of western Turkey. The... more This article is based on a fieldwork project conducted by the authors in the Muğla region of western Turkey. The region is the locale for a significant level of settlement by British people, within the wider context of settlement by groups of other EU nationals in western Turkey. Based on a series of interviews with British settlers and Turkish locals, it examines the factors which affect the process of legal adaptation of the former group. It identifies and discusses the place of British settlers within the larger Turkish legal order, their integration into Turkish life, and the extent to which different socio-legal disabilities and advantages affect this process. The article also casts some light on the extent to which, given the level of British immigration into the area, Turkish officialdom is prepared for their presence.

Armenian-Ontarian Migration and Community Life before and after the Armenian Genocide: 1887-1930

by Daniel Ohanian

Chinese Immigration to Western Manitoba Since 1884: Wah Hep, George Chong, the KMT, and the United Church

by Alison Marshall

Journal of Canadian Studies. 42:3 Fall 2008: 28-54.

Palestinian Women Filmmakers in the New World Diaspora

by Terri Ginsberg

forthcoming (in Arabic and English) in Palestinian Women Filmmakers: Strategies of Representation, Conditions of Production, ed. Alia Arasoughly (Shashat/Birzeit UP)