Abstract
This article engages with Engin Isin's theoretical contributions on citizenship by applying his concepts of ‘acts of citizenship’ and ‘activist citizenship’ to Global Bersih, a movement for electoral reform in Malaysia that has crossed national boundaries. Global Bersih, and a further case study of the Melbourne-based Malaysian community magazine Jom, demonstrate some of ways through which Malaysians have sought to exercise influence on Malaysia despite being overseas. Through a description of the activities of Global Bersih and Jom, and of key persons behind each endeavour, I demonstrate that Isin's concepts are useful in understanding transnational citizenship activities and their potential for empowerment, while also reflecting on the need for a distinction between ‘scripts’ and ‘habitus’ when considering the criterion of novelty that Isin places on an act to be an ‘act of citizenship’.
Published Version
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