Collective Identity Research Articles

Europe vs Hong Kong partnership agreements: reversing trends

The comparison between EU cohesion policies on public works as a common good and Hong Kong’s policies on public-private participation to preserve and revitalise architectural heritage highlights cultural and operational differences. While Europe often adopts an inclusive approach, involving the communities mainly in the valorisation of public spaces, Hong Kong implements models more focused on public-private partnership to preserve the public real estate. Thus, the adaptive reuse of public works at the two different scales transforms public works into catalysts of prosperity for the community by preserving historical memory, but has a different impact on shared value generation, social cohesion enhancement, sustainable development promotion, and collective identity valorisation. The contribution analyses the two models (centrifugal and centripetal), focusing on objectives and implementation tools.

7.Y.2. Solidarity and public health teaching and practice in the age of new normal

Abstract This workshop will address the concept and topic of solidarity as it pertains to public health (PH). The objectives of the workshop are: • To explore what is understood by solidarity in the context of PH; • To consider the PH scenarios in which solidarity may be an important construct; • To consider how solidarity is understood by PH experts and practitioners, and • To profile investigate how solidarity is represented in educational and training programme in PH. Solidarity is a social determinant of health. It is proven as a crucial factor in achieving PH objectives such as: compliance with vaccination campaigns; donations of bodily samples to biobanks; or refraining from polluting. It can be defined as a cost taken upon oneself for the sake of a group with which one identifies (Prainsack and Buyx 2017). As PH is about achieving health objectives through public participation, solidarity can be seen as the kernel of PH practice. In an era with emerging PH threats, from pandemics to climate crises, the importance of understanding the many meanings and uses of solidarity is essential to PH practitioners. There is much more in solidarity than meets the eye. Solidarity is largely a mystification of a collective identity, a boundary-making mechanism that draw the line between ‘us’ and ‘them’, and most importantly, it is the generator of what is understood as ‘public’. Facing increasing challenges in PH, solidarity is a concept to be thoroughly apprehended. Is there one solidarity, or rather multiple solidarities? What are the referent publics of different solidarities and how do they interact? Can be a global solidarity? Is solidarity a normative or descriptive concept? Is solidarity the outcome or the generator of pro-social behaviour. These are questions that will be discussed in this round table workshop session. Curious to learn about PH views on solidarity, we conducted structured interviews with PH experts to ascertain views on solidarity as a key concept in PH; whether the concept should be incorporated into PH education programme, and if so, how best to do that. Preliminary findings suggest that all interviewees agreed that solidarity is a key concept in PH but when asked to define solidarity, provided diverse answers. They acknowledged that solidarity should be taught in different stages of PH education, but admitted that it rarely appears in current curricula. Many interviewees stated that solidarity may be culturally and politically determined and should be discussed through case studies and guest lectures as well as theory. The added value of this workshop is to raise awareness about the importance of the concept of solidarity and its importance in PH education and training programmes. The workshop will run as a Round table discussion, in which each panellist will make a short presentation on a specific subject, which will then be discussed between panel members and audience. Key messages • Solidarity is considered a key concept for the practice of public health, yet has been constantly contested as too vague and even too political. • Presenting key challenges facing the teaching of solidarity as competence in public health; its conceptual ambiguities and cultural differences and the different uses of solidarity as a value and tool. Speakers/Panelists Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK Mary Codd University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Alison Mc Callum University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Hagai Boas Van Leer Jerusalem Institute, Jerusalem, Israel

Introduction to themed section on mechanisms of national solidarity

AbstractThis introduction to the themed section on ‘Mechanisms of National Solidarity’ explores key questions and challenges related to studying national solidarity as distinct from national identity. Focusing on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’, this section highlights the importance of examining and theorising the social mechanisms that shape different manifestations of national solidarity. These mechanisms include interpersonal interactions, social networks, communicative processes, socio‐political institutions and iconic material objects. Additionally, the introduction briefly outlines the six contributions in this section, which examines specific solidarity mechanisms within particular national contexts. The contributions offer valuable insights into the study of nationhood and nationalism in both everyday life and public events, helping to unravel the under‐explored relationship between collective identity formation and the creation of solidarity.

EXPRESS: From the Margins to the Mainstream: Entrepreneurial Theorization and the Spread of a New Collective Identity within a Mature Organizational Field

We study the effects of entrepreneurial theorization on the spread of a new collective identity within a mature organizational field. Mature fields are characterized by dominant logics, entrenched practices, and stable patterns of interaction, resulting in isomorphism and inertia. Yet, mature fields do change, often as a result of entrepreneurial activity. Whereas prior work has focused on the creation of “oppositional” niches within mature fields, we focus on an identity movement that transforms the core of a field. We do this within the context of the Canadian wine field, a field that remained stable from the end of Prohibition through the 1970s. For decades, large incumbents projected a European identity for their wines and gave these wines “faux” European names. In contrast, pioneering entrepreneurs projected a distinctly Canadian identity for their wines, an identity that was ultimately adopted by incumbents. In this way, domestic wine in Canada became tied to place rather than divorced from it. We show how entrepreneurial theorization of the “Canadian wine” identity by small producers and identity pioneers spread to the center of the field, and how the effects of theorization depended on the authenticity of these theorizers. We also suggest that an identity movement that engages incumbents rather than seeks to create an oppositional category is more likely to reach the center of a mature field.

Culture and Social Movements: The Example of South Africa in the Post-Apartheid Period

This paper explores the intricate relationship between culture and social movements in post-apartheid South Africa through a critical phenomenological approach. This method focuses on the lived experiences and societal impacts of these movements, revealing how cultural symbols, narratives, religious frameworks, sports, media, and identity have shaped and sustained the struggles for justice and equality. The analysis begins by defining social movements and culture, emphasizing their interplay within the South African context. Using a phenomenological approach developed by Husserl and expanded by Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre, this study undertakes steps such as phenomenological reduction, description, essence identification, and structural analysis. These steps are further enriched by combining critical theory with phenomenology, highlighting social, historical, and political dimensions. This approach allows for an in-depth understanding of how culture, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and moral components, influences the formation, strategies, and sustainability of social movements. Key findings illustrate that cultural elements have served as sources of resistance, empowerment, and solidarity, playing an essential role in shaping collective identities and actions. Ultimately, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between culture and social movements in South Africa, underscoring the importance of cultural resources in driving social change.

‘Resilient survivors’: narratives of violence against women of refugee background

ABSTRACT Scholarship on migrant deservingness explores how host society institutions require specific types of performances, particularly of vulnerability/ powerlessness and resilience/ self-sufficiency, sometimes in temporal succession. Such performances are also required of victim-survivors of violence against women, a category that overlaps considerably with refugees. This study brings together feminist literature related to violence against women with migrant deservingness literature, to observe how cultural factors interact with host society institutions. The article draws on an empirical study about narratives of violence in the lives of women of refugee background in Ireland, centring five in-depth interviews with self-identified victim-survivors, alongside six focus group discussions with women of refugee background. Using narrative analysis, I explore individual and collective identities in response to violence. Narrative identities of resilience are strongly present, while vulnerability is not. I conclude that, in line with scholarship on migrant deservingness, neoliberal institutional discourses of ‘resilient survivors’ support individual women to express agentic, albeit individualising and responsibilitising narratives, and I add that this simultaneously upholds patriarchal cultures of silence and inaction about violence. I offer conceptual thinking on ‘space for action’ as an alternative approach for scholars and practitioners to construct and consider the victim-survivor of violence against refugee women.

Social entrepreneurship and value creation in the cultural sector. An empirical analysis using the multidimensional controlling model

Purpose Social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in the contemporary economic and social ecosystem, defining a value proposition that incorporates a plurality of dimensions to be considered. This research work analyzes the externalities of social enterprises driven by arts and culture for the territories they operate in. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach of a single case study is performed to consider multiple dimensions in the development of controlling models in the managerial field. The framework adopted is then implemented through a longitudinal analysis over the last three years. Findings The empirical evidence shows the evolution of the economic and financial performance, the social effectiveness and the institutional legitimacy of the case, explaining the role played in the reference community, even during crisis time. The predictive power of performance changes emerges as a direct link to socially responsible indexes that amplify the attractiveness of value proposition processes. Research limitations/implications The results obtained are aligned with Betzlet et al. (2021) key predictor of the success of social entrepreneurship. A wide sample with multiple social enterprises operating in the cultural and creative field needs to be considered in the future, to further advance the literature through a comparative analysis. Originality/value This paper reveals that, in the cultural and creative sector, social entrepreneurship value creation is intrinsically linked to the individual and collective identity dimension able to promote cohesion and community well-being.

Forgetting Amir Boktor: the quintessential humanist Arab educator

ABSTRACT With his numerous articles and books, Amir Boktor was the most prolific Arab pedagogue of his time. Boktor established and edited the longest-running pedagogic journal of his era, The Journal of Modern Education, which was read across the region. He was a staunch secularist and progressive educator, consistently advocating for a curricular revolution in Egypt. Boktor’s curriculum centered around the child, focusing on its needs and abilities, and was tailored according to societal and environmental relevance. Despite his significant contributions, Boktor’s intellectual legacy has been largely forgotten in both Egypt and the region’s historiography of education and history of ideas. This article explores the reasons behind this erasure or marginalization, arguing that despite his contributions and influence, Boktor remained a pedagogic outsider. He held senior positions at the American University in Cairo and refused to integrate the cultural discourse of his time into his pedagogy. As a dean at a foreign institution during the rise of state education and a progressive educator in an era of nationalist education and the search for collective identity, Boktor’s work stood apart. This study contextualizes Boktor’s authorship, highlights its exceptionalism within his professional community, and explains how he came to be the (forgotten) quintessential humanist Arab educator.

Identity Construction in Fan Community: An Analysis of Online Discourse among (G)I-DLE Fans in Mainland China on Sina Weibo

Fandom has become a social and cultural phenomenon reflecting practical activities in the fan community. The prevalence of social media and online fan communities has facilitated the transnational industries of Korean popular culture (K-pop) in mainland China. Fans are enthusiastic about creating posts dedicated to their idol(s) or music bands to broaden the influence of the celebrities and establish personal connections with them. The unique interaction patterns in the K-pop fan community reflect the process of fans’ identity identification and construction. This article explores how mainland fans employ discursive strategies to construct their identity and legitimize their behaviors on social media. A total of 80 posts in (G)I-DLE Super Topic made by mainland China netizens have been collected from Sina Weibo. The findings illustrate the construction of both individual and collective identities among fans, which are shaped by various contexts and different communicative purposes. Further analysis explores the potential impact of fans' identities within online communities on the K-pop market in mainland China.

Identity Construction in Fan Community: An Analysis of Online Discourse among (G)I-DLE Fans in Mainland China on Sina Weibo

Fandom has become a social and cultural phenomenon reflecting practical activities in the fan community. The prevalence of social media and online fan communities has facilitated the transnational industries of Korean popular culture (K-pop) in mainland China. Fans are enthusiastic about creating posts dedicated to their idol(s) or music bands to broaden the influence of the celebrities and establish personal connections with them. The unique interaction patterns in the K-pop fan community reflect the process of fans’ identity identification and construction. This article explores how mainland fans employ discursive strategies to construct their identity and legitimize their behaviors on social media. A total of 80 posts in (G)I-DLE Super Topic made by mainland China netizens have been collected from Sina Weibo. The findings illustrate the construction of both individual and collective identities among fans, which are shaped by various contexts and different communicative purposes. Further analysis explores the potential impact of fans' identities within online communities on the K-pop market in mainland China.

“Neither of the East nor of the West”

What does it mean to do Islamic Studies within Religious Studies? Taking the cue from Thomas A. Tweed's intervention, this article discusses new theoretical and methodological approaches in Religious Studies and their relevance to researching Islam. Such approaches cross geographical, disciplinary, and intellectual boundaries while equally being emplaced in particular socio-cultural contexts that inform their perspectives. In order to overcome statist, normative, and essentialist understandings of Islam, the article explores three key themes: ambiguity, multi-locality, and aesthetics. When we approach the intellectual history of Islam, not only its diversity and plurality become obvious but also its culture of ambiguity, which is at ease with contradictions and inconsistencies. Recent reflections on diaspora religions decentre Islamic Studies from the Middle East and allow for exploring the multiple transnational connections between Muslim minority and majority contexts. Such approaches illustrate the multi-locality of Islam. Finally, the article explores what it means to approach Islam as an aesthetic formation in which rituals as embodied experiences and material sensory culture are central in forging and articulating Muslim individual and collective identities.

The Amazigh language in Melilla (Spain): an approach to its uses and meanings

ABSTRACT The Amazigh language in the city of Melilla (Spain) is recognised as a regional and minority language, but it is not recognised as a co-official language, nor does it have the status of an official language. The unequal relationship between the official language, Spanish, and the Amazigh language has not only linguistic but also social implications, which have been little studied in this particular territory. Against this backdrop, we propose to investigate the situation of the Amazigh language in this context. For this purpose, an exploratory sociolinguistic study has been carried out, which approaches the uses, attitudes and opinions of the Melilla population – speakers and non-speakers – of the language in relation to the role it plays in the life of the city, its contribution to individual and collective cultural identity, as well as the role of political decisions on these dynamics. To this end, a mixed methodology was applied, including a questionnaire, as a pilot application, focus groups and semi-structured group and individual interviews. Among the conclusions, it is clear that there is a differential valuation of languages, which leads to inequalities. In response, the study recommends strong institutional support.

Economic Decisions and Cultural Trauma: A Sociological Exploration of Macro-level Policies and Societal Perceptions

The article delves into the intricate relationship between macroeconomic policies and cultural trauma. It argues that economic decisions, typically confined to corporate and legislative realms, significantly impact communities by shaping collective memories, identities, and psychological distress. The study highlights historical events like The Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring their transformative impacts on societal consciousness and cultural narratives. The article emphasizes the role of macroeconomic choices, such as fiscal policies and trade agreements, in creating collective experiences that transcend economic outcomes. Using examples like trade liberalization in Brazil, it demonstrates how economic policies can lead to diverse societal perceptions and narratives. The article also examines the role of media, public discourse, and societal leaders in shaping public perceptions of these decisions. Central to the study are the contributions of cultural sociologists like Jeffrey C. Alexander, who propose that cultural trauma arises more from societal narratives around an event rather than the event itself. The study stresses the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates economic analysis with sociological insights, highlighting the importance of understanding economic decisions beyond their immediate financial implications. Conclusively, the article posits that macroeconomic decisions have profound and lasting impacts on societies, influencing collective identities and memories. It advocates for policies and scholarly approaches that acknowledge the broader societal ramifications of these decisions.

Who are we? Discursive construction of collective identity in youth organisations in Poland: a citizenship orientation perspective

ABSTRACT Collective identity (CI) is one of the levels of the social construction of citizenship. It was assumed that since citizenship as a state-centred notion is difficult to maintain today, an analysis of CI should exceed national, ethnic, language and cultural identifications. What does it look like in the case of CI constructed discursively by youth organisations? The aim of the research presented in the paper is to reconstruct collective identities (CIs) based on a discourse analysis of selected youth organisations operating in Poland and an assessment of their community-individual orientation. The research material constituted 696 documents produced in 2018 by six youth organisations on their official websites and Facebook profiles. The approach by Ruth Wodak and Martin Reisigl was adopted. We analysed the application of discursive strategies in the texts referring to the ‘we’ and ‘they’ categories. The conclusions indicate, among others, that in the analysed discourses the CI is differentiated by the manner of distinguishing from ‘others’ and the constellation of predicates relating to the category ‘we’.

Studying a women’s collective from a politics of commoning perspective: the case of Skouries, Greece

ABSTRACT We live in a period of multiple crises, including economic, environmental, and social emergencies. The prioritisation of capitalist economic growth by most political institutions is among the most critical drivers of these crises in a never-ending loop. Against this context, commoning, perceived as collective care, presents an alternative political strategy to respond to those crises. In this paper, we investigate how an anti-mining community in Skouries, Greece, opposes the imposition of a large-scale mining project by forming a commons. Our commons is a women’s collective that sought a sustainable economic alternative to large-scale mining and a model that could influence different political values much needed for politics in a crisis-ridden framework. We argue that commoning can enrich the politics of our times. Commoning highlights the importance of caring collectively for developing collective identities and relations between humans and the environment, which can benefit local, national, and international politics.

Legitimation strategies in emerging ecosystems: The case of advanced air mobility in Hamburg

This study provides insights into the legitimation process of emerging ecosystems and strengthens the conceptual link between entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic geography. It examines existing theoretical frameworks on legitimation strategies in emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems by inquiring into advanced air mobility (AAM), an area in which innovation faces exceptionally high legitimation challenges. The initial integration of drones for logistics and air taxis for passenger transport is surrounded by ambiguous future visions that range from high expectations to concerns about developing a mobility form that is neither sustainable nor socially acceptable and affordable. Empirically, this article offers an analytical understanding of the collective legitimation strategies within the emerging AAM ecosystem in Hamburg, Germany. For this, we used multiple qualitative methods and data sources: (1) a contextualizing network analysis, (2) semi-structured interviews with 22 representatives of tech and policy development, and (3) participatory observation from applied research projects. Based on the empirical material, we find that the current conceptual debate underestimates the public sector's role in ecosystem emergence and legitimation. As AAM depends on fundamental regulatory change, authorities and state-owned companies in the aviation sector have a decisive influence on the emergence of the ecosystem. Furthermore, our findings highlight how global discourses shape local practices and expectations. By combining cross-sectoral knowledge, entrepreneurs and policymakers aim to identify feasible use cases for their place-specific context. Nevertheless, the lack of a collective identity within the ecosystem, which comes largely from the uncertainties of AAM, poses numerous challenges for ecosystem participants addressing their liability of newness.

Transient Transformations: Memory and Identity Lessons from Kumbh Mela

The Kumbh Mela, held every twelve years at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Prayagraj, India, is the largest religious gathering and ephemeral city in the world. This article explores the physical and social dimensions of the festival, drawing parallels with other temporary architectures and paying particular attention to the role of memory. The physical structure of the city, organized into a flexible grid, accommodates millions of pilgrims while preserving spaces for the community and its collective identity. The material memory of the site, layered with historical and spiritual significance, intersects with the intangible memory carried by pilgrims through traditions and cultural practices. This blend of tangible and intangible elements fosters a sense of continuity, even in a temporary setting. By examining the Kumbh Mela, the study highlights the importance of memory in creating cohesive, resilient communities within transient urban landscapes, and offers valuable lessons for the design and planning of other temporary settlements.

Presentation of national identity on social media in times of crises: The case of a Palestinian anti-violence movement in Israel

This case study offers an understanding of the perception and use of social media among social activists as means of collective identity formation. It focuses on the case of a Palestinian anti-violence movement in Israel. To learn about the identity presented by the United Fahmawi movement, interviews with two of the movement’s leaders and its Facebook posts were analyzed. The findings show a multi-layered, complex identity. The identity is presented as Palestinian, mainly centered around the city of Umm al-Fahm. Otherness is a crucial aspect of this identity, as Palestinian identity stands in opposition to the Israeli one. Furthermore, the police are presented as the source of the crime crisis, while also seen as responsible for reducing it. This study shows how indigenous social activists use the intersectionality between the social, the political, and the national to present an identity.

Madrid’s linguistic landscape: languages and cultural allusions in the Vista Alegre neighbourhood

ABSTRACT The linguistic landscape of Vista Alegre, a multicultural migrant neighbourhood in Madrid, was analysed to explore the interplay between language use, public spaces, and societal dynamics. By examining 137 non-official signs geolocated in linguistic cartography, the study aimed to identify the languages employed and the strategies of certain communities to make themselves visible. Spanish emerged as the predominant language, followed by English, while Chinese, Romanian, Arabic, and Italian collectively accounted for less than 10% of the sample, indicating a broad linguistic diversity not directly correlated with the resident population's linguistic composition. Regarding strategies, nearly half of the signs displayed semiotic strategies such as personal and family names, geographic references, and flags. Notably, nationalities such as Chinese and Romanian do not leverage the linguistic landscape for identity expression, in contrast to Honduran, Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Venezuelan communities, which use it to render themselves visible. The term ‘Latino’ is prominently presented to foster a collective identity among various nationalities. This linguistic landscape analysis underscores that in the ethnolinguistic vitality of Vista Alegre, national visibility is made apparent through the choice of language along with cultural and geographical references that will help negotiate identities.

Weaving the tastes of tradition: Uncovering the threads of India’s culinary identity amid globalisation

ABSTRACT In the face of globalisation’s homogenising wave, this study serves as a beacon, illuminating the intricate web of factors that safeguard culinary heritage in India. The study hypothesised that a myriad of elements interweaves to form the fabric of food traditions, which in turn fortify collective identity. To validate this, the study engaged 696 individuals via an online survey, employing advanced statistical tools such as path analysis and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to unearth the core determinants of gastronomic lineage. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was utilised to measure the impact of these culinary practices on personal and cultural identity. The study’s revelations are profound, demonstrating that each of the 18 determinants meticulously chosen for this research significantly contributes to the crafting of Indian food heritage, thereby seasoning the identity of the future with the flavours of the past.