Clash of Storyworlds: A Karbi Perspective

This research employs a qualitative methodology with an ethnographic approach to analyze the intercultural communication strategies of Minangkabau migrants in Panyabungan, North Sumatra. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis to gain insights into migrants’ adaptation processes, identity formation, and integration into the local community. The study examines migration through three stages: emigration (push and pull factors), physical migration (adaptation challenges and cultural resilience), and immigration (integration and identity negotiation). Findings reveal that Minangkabau migrants utilize various strategies, including social engagement, cultural adaptation, and the use of social networks, allowing them to maintain their cultural identity while fostering harmonious relationships in their new environment. This research highlights the significance of intercultural communication in ensuring successful migration and social integration.

The study examines the dynamic process of cultural identity negotiation among South Asian students within Chinese higher education institutions, employing Identity Management Theory (IMT) as the primary theoretical framework. Based on qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 29 South Asian students across six Chinese universities, the research addresses three questions: (1) How do South Asian students perceive, express or suppress their cultural identity in China, (2) What communicative strategies do they employ to manage identity tensions and (3) How do institutional, interpersonal, and contextual dynamics shape identity negotiation in intercultural settings? Thematic analysis reveals five interrelated dimensions of identity negotiation: situational awareness and strategic expression of cultural identity, facework strategies to manage identity tensions, institutional barriers and peer solidarity, experiences of identity freezing and stereotyping, and the emergence of hybrid identity formation. Findings reveals that identity negotiation in this specific context is shaped by asymmetric power relations, experiences of cultural misrecognition and ongoing processes of communicative adaptation occurring within a predominantly Confucian-influenced educational environment. Participants engage in both preventive and corrective facework to navigate tensions between cultural maintenance and host-context conformity. Moreover, the emergence of hybrid identities reflects both cultural resilience and strategic adaptation. The study contributes to the field of intercultural communication studies by extending IMT to non-western academic settings such as China and critically foregrounding the intra-regional diversity within the South Asian student body. It offers practical implications for developing culturally responsive institutional practices and enhancing support systems within Chinese universities to foster more effective intercultural engagement.

This research explores the dual identities of Indian immigrants in Europe, focussing on cultural resilience, identity formation, and the experiences of the second generation. Drawing on migration studies, identity theories, and postcolonial critique, the study investigates how Indian immigrants navigate their cultural heritage while adapting to European societies. Theoretical frameworks from Erikson, Hall, and postcolonial theorists like Said and Bhabha provide insight into the fluidity of identity. Cultural resilience is examined through how immigrants maintain their heritage amid challenges. The study also addresses diaspora dynamics, hybridity, and intersectionality in shaping immigrant experiences. By synthesising these perspectives, the research highlights the complex interplay between cultural preservation and adaptation in the lives of Indian immigrants, contributing to broader discussions on multiculturalism and transnationalism.

Assam, the mother state of Northeast, is the land of tribal communities where more than twenty-three (23) tribal communities have been living from ancient times. Bodo, Karbi, Tiwa, Mising, Deori, Rabha, Dimasa, Hajong etc. are the major tribal communities of Assam. This paper tries to explore the complex process of defining self-identity of the Deori tribe living in Assam, a state of north-east India. The Deori tribe is an indigenous tribal community that have experienced many historical, sociocultural, and political changes during 60-70 years, thus shaping the sense of identity. The approach that draws from sociology, anthropology, and history to find the way involve in the construction, negotiation, and contestation of the Deori identity over time. Through the examination of historical accounts, oral traditions, ceremonial customs, and socio-economic frameworks, the study illuminates the intricate interaction between internal and external elements that have influenced the perception of the self-identity of the Deori tribe. Furthermore, the paper explores the implications of globalisation, modernisation, state policies on the preservation and revival of the cultural identity of Deori tribe. Finally, it delves into the broader discourses on identity formation, indigenous rights, and cultural resilience in contemporary societies. To prepare this paper both historical and explanatory methodologies have been applied by the researchers.

This research explores the evolution of cultural narratives and their role in shaping identity within the spectrum of Indian literature, focusing on both indigenous and modern perspectives. The study delves into how literary expressions act as cultural archives, preserving traditional ethos while also engaging with contemporary realities. By examining select indigenous oral traditions and modern Indian literary works, this paper investigates how literature becomes a medium of self-definition, cultural resilience, and socio- political discourse. The comparative framework highlights shifts in themes, linguistic expression, and worldview, revealing the dynamic interplay between heritage and modernity in shaping Indian identity.

Purpose This study aims to explore the complex interplay between Hong Kong’s colonial legacy, its current political tensions with neocolonial Mainland China and the resulting impact on the tastes and consumption patterns of its residents. By examining the nuances of taste and cultural capital within the context of Hong Kong’s unique historical and political landscape, this study seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of postcolonial societies in non-Western settings. The research questions address how British colonialism and subsequent political developments have shaped Hong Kongers’ cultural values and tastes, and how these influences are manifested in contemporary consumer behavior. Design/methodology/approach Through in-depth interviews and observations involving 30 participants, this study uncovers how Hong Kong residents use taste as a means of identity negotiation and differentiation from mainland Chinese. Findings The findings reveal that consumption patterns are not only a response to globalization and market dynamics but also a form of cultural and political expression that reflects a community’s ongoing negotiation of its colonial past and its present political realities. By advocating for the inclusion of non-Western perspectives and exploring how local cultural values inform consumption pattern, the research responds to a call for “decolonizing marketing.” In addition, this research also contributes to the broader body of knowledge by moving beyond individual consumer experiences and delving into the culturally contextualized consumer subject. Originality/value This research explores Hong Kong’s unique historical and political context to examine how cultural and political identities are negotiated through consumption. By integrating structural and discursive aspects of postcolonial theory with psychological factors of identity formation, it provides a multidimensional perspective on identity formation in postcolonial societies. Challenging Western-centric views, this study highlights non-Western perspectives and local cultural values, contributing to the “decolonizing marketing” discourse. It offers new insights into how colonial legacies and current political tensions shape consumer behavior, enriching the global narrative of consumer culture by emphasizing the significance of cultural and political factors in shaping consumption.

This paper explores the evolving role of historical monuments in Patna as active agents of cultural resilience and identity formation in post-colonial India. The purpose of this research is to analyse how monuments such as Golghar, Patna Sahib, Mahavir Mandir, and Patna Museum have been reinterpreted throughout the course of time through public memory, religious practice, political narratives, and institutional frameworks. Rather than considering these sites as static remnants of the past, the analysis focusses on how these monuments have been reinterpreted. The study illustrates the manner in which these cultural structures have resisted colonial upheavals and been absorbed into present regional identity. It does so by drawing from a historical synthesis of sources that have been documented. By performing a variety of functions, ranging from curatorial narrative and symbolic resistance to spiritual anchoring and community remembering, each monument contributes to the maintenance of cultural continuity throughout generations. A further focus of the article is an examination of the interconnections between political symbolism and public involvement with heritage. Particular attention is paid to the manner in which these locations have been hijacked by both state-led urban development schemes and grassroots cultural efforts. These places have been turned into venues for conversation, negotiation, and the reaffirmation of regional pride, according to the findings of this study, which reveals that the nature of communal memory in Patna is always altering. This study highlights the importance of implementing heritage policies that are more inclusive and that take into account local narratives. Additionally, it suggests incorporating cultural heritage into educational systems and governance frameworks in order to guarantee the preservation of cultural heritage in a sustainable manner and to promote meaningful public engagement. Consequently, the article frames Patna's monuments as living manifestations of the city's cultural memory, which is closely linked with the city's socio-political history that has occurred throughout time. Their research not only makes a contribution to the general knowledge of the dynamics of regional identity, but it also provides insights into the more general processes of cultural affirmation that occur in post-colonial nations.

This article explores the influence of various factors on the formation of identity among the community of World War II Polish veterans which formed in the Flemish city of Ghent after the rise of a socialist regime in their home country. Challenging popular perceptions of the term “émigré,” the article highlights the diverse ways in which the members of this community promoted their heritage within their host society. Particular attention is given to the role of religious and cultural heritage, the émigré community’s engagement with anti-communist politics, and the evolution of this political engagement over time. Interactions with the local Catholic Diocese of Ghent are examined through a framework of Polish Catholicism as a “lived religion” which facilitated the formation of a hybrid identity. In particular, the role of Carlos Bressers, a Belgian priest and chaplain on whose personal archive the research is based, is analyzed. Through his position and contacts, Bressers served as a mediating figure in the negotiation of hybrid identity and helped the community of Polish veterans carve out a place for itself in the city of Ghent.

This study takes stock of the North African diaspora's experiences in Western Europe across four distinct generations. It draws on a tailored theoretical framework to deconstruct the interactions of the historical experiences, societal shifts, and identity negotiations these generations have gone through in the process of cultural dissemination. The central question of the paper revolves around understanding the ways digital platforms and social media influence the negotiation and preservation of cultural heritage, as well as looking into how these technological advancements impact the formation of diasporic identities. The primary objective herein is to shed light on the challenges, resistances, and adaptations experienced by the four generations (Pioneering, Integration, Globalization, and Digital Generations) in the face of cultural differences, discrimination, and the unique opportunities afforded by the digital age. Furthermore, the objective is to contribute to the existing body of literature by adopting a holistic approach that synthesizes various aspects of the diasporic experience, shedding light on the ways in which technology shapes the cultural narratives of North African communities, ultimately offering some insights into the broader discourse on cultural resilience, connectivity, and the evolving nature of diasporic communities in the contemporary world.

Objective: ADHD is often a lifelong condition, and has grown increasingly prevalent over the past few decades. Adolescence is a period characterized by the quest to develop a coherent identity, yet relatively little research has examined the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and identity. The purpose of this study was to explore the importance of experiences of the healthcare system and of peer relationships in the identity formation of adolescents with ADHD. Method: This was investigated through semi-structured interviews with 10 adolescents (n = 8 females and 2 males) aged 15 to 18 years. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted within a narrative framework. Results: The results revealed seven main themes indicating that ADHD played a central role in the adolescents’ self-narratives: (1) limited effect of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) contact on identity formation, (2) the ADHD concept as meaning-making, (3) heterogeneity of the role of medication on identity formation, (4) negotiation of identity in relation to others, (5) varying degrees of acceptance in different relationships, (6) perceiving oneself as a troublemaker, and (7) relationship difficulties. Conclusions: Overall, the diagnosis constituted an important narrative and symptoms of ADHD rather than the label of ADHD tended to be stigmatizing. Furthermore, medication affected identity, and some felt pressured to medicate to adhere to social norms. A common pattern was that adolescents set aside their individual identity in favor of their relational identity.

Some Considerations On The Problems Of Identity And Humanitarian Security

Self-realization and cultural narratives about later life

For the past decades of uprising fame of Korean Wave, the influence of it on student’s cultural identities is globally significant, particularly among Filipinos. The uprising influences of the Korean drama wave to the Philippines contributes to a disturbing change and fading of cultural identity of the Filipinos. This study investigates the influence of Korean dramas to the cultural identity of students in one private school. This study utilized a qualitative research design through interviews, specifically phenomenological, through the use of a validated interview questionnaire. With the increasing global popularity of K-dramas, this research examines how exposure to this form of media influences students' fashion, language, food preferences, and media consumption practices in relation to their own cultural identity. Through semi-structured interview, allowing an in-depth discussion of student’s perception about the influence of foreign media specifically K-drama, the study examines the extent to which K-dramas impact students' attitudes towards Filipino culture, their adoption of Korean cultural elements, and their negotiation of identity in a globalized world. Findings from this research provides insights into the complex interplay between media consumption and cultural identity formation among young Filipinos, contributing to a better understanding of the cultural dynamics in the context of globalization and media influence. Based on the study results, it reveals significant insights forming four central themes illustrating how exposure in Korean drama reshapes preferences in food, fashion, and daily habits of those who are exposed. This emphasized the negotiation of cultural identity as students incorporate foreign influences into their self-perception while still valuing their local identity.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework which deepens our understanding of identity negotiation and formation in a collectivistic Asian context. Drawing from a three-year, multi-method ethnographic research process, the authors explore how contemporary Asian consumers construct, negotiate and enact family identity through meal consumption. The authors particularly focus on the ways in which Asian consumers negotiate values, norms and practices associated with filial piety during new family formation. Building on the influential framework of layered family identity proposed by Epp and Price (2008), the authors seek to develop a framework which enables us to better understand how Asian consumers construct and enact their family identity through mundane consumption.Design/methodology/approach– As most of the identity negotiation in the domestic sphere takes place within the mundanity of everyday life, such as during the routines, rituals and conventions of “ordinary” family meals, the authors adopted an interpretive, hermeneutic and longitudinal ethnographic research approach, which drew from a purposive sample of nine Sri Lankan couples.Findings– The authors present the finding in three vivid narrative exemplars of new family identity negotiation and discuss three processes which informants negotiated the layered family identity. First, Asian families negotiate family identity by re-formulating aspects of their relational identity bundles. Second, re-negotiating facets of individual identity facilitates construction of family identity. Finally, re-configuring aspects of collective family identity, especially in relation to the extended family is important to family identity in this research context. The authors also propose filial piety as a fundamental construct of Asian family identity and highlight the importance of collective layer over individual and relational family identity layers.Research limitations/implications– The aim of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework which deepens our understanding of identity negotiation and formation in a collectivistic Asian context. Even though exploring Sinhalese, Sri Lankan culture sheds light on understanding identity and consumption in other similar Asian cultures, such as Indian, Chinese and Korean; this paper does not suggest generalisability of findings to similar research contexts. On the contrary, the findings aim to present an in-depth discussion of how identities are challenged, negotiated and re-formulated during new family formation around specific consumption behaviours associated with filial piety in a collectivistic extended family.Social implications– As this research explores tightly knit relationships in extended families and how these families negotiate values, norms and practices associated with filial piety, it enables us to understand the complex ways in which Asian families negotiate identity. The proposed framework could be useful to explore how changing social dynamics challenge the traditional sense of family in these collectivistic cultures and how they affect family happiness and well-being. Such insight is useful for public policymakers and social marketers when addressing family dissatisfaction–based social issues in Asia, such as increasing rates of suicide, divorce, child abuse, prostitution and sexually transmitted disease.Originality/value– Little is known about the complex ways in which Asian family identities are negotiated in contrast to Western theoretical models on this topic. Particularly, we need to understand how fundamental aspects of Asian family identity, such as filial piety, are continuously re-negotiated, manifested and perpetuated during everyday life and how formulations of Asian family identity may be different from its predominantly Western conceptualisations. Therefore, the paper provides an adaptation to the current layered family identity model and proposes filial piety as a fundamental construct driving Asian family identity.

This research examines the complex interplay between international cultural influences and indigenous value systems in shaping fashion consumption practices among Vietnamese higher education students. Employing a sophisticated mixed-methods approach integrating Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), this study interrogates how transcultural fashion capital operates within the distinctive socio-cultural matrix of Vietnam's rapidly globalising educational landscape. The empirical investigation reveals multidimensional pathways through which global cultural flows interact with localised identity constructions, yielding heterogeneous configuration patterns of fashion consumption. The study identifies three distinct causal configurations leading to high fashion acculturation, with Western media exposure and cosmopolitan orientation emerging as necessary but insufficient conditions. Indigenous cultural resilience demonstrates significant moderating effects, functioning as both constraint and enabler within different configurational pathways. This research contributes substantially to the theoretical understanding of fashion consumption as a site of cultural negotiation and identity formation, extending existing conceptualisations through a non-Western epistemological lens. The findings offer practical implications for international fashion marketers, cultural policy architects, and educational administrators navigating the complex terrain of globalisation and cultural identity within emerging consumption ecosystems.