Identity In Diaspora Research Articles

Interaction of L1 attrition, language attitudes and identity in Lithuanian diaspora

Abstract Researchers note that the complex process of language attrition is influenced by a plethora of multifaceted factors, among which attitudes and identity play significant roles. The aim of this paper is to analyse the way in which language attitudes and identity are related to Lithuanian L1 attrition in Lithuanian emigrant communities residing in various countries worldwide. This is achieved by studying the extralinguistic factors, such as convictions about the importance of the heritage Lithuanian language in life, feelings associated with the Lithuanian language, identification with the culture and history of the native and/or host country and the country itself. The quantitative data comes from large-scale Lithuanian diaspora surveys and is used to analyse the link between self-perceived L1 attrition, language attitudes, and identity. The analysis is illustrated by citations from the in-depth interviews that constitute the qualitative part of the data. The study’s results show that there is a correlation between the perceived Lithuanian L1 attrition and both language attitudes and identity. The language attitudes of those emigrants who perceive their L1 attrition are less positive towards the L1, and they identify less with Lithuanian culture and Lithuania when compared to those who do not perceive attrition.

Aligned and shifting identities in distant diasporas: a multigenerational examination

ABSTRACT The diaspora literature regularly examines identity shifts and remakings through experiences of displacement. Multigenerational diasporas, however, complicate these shifts due to differing contexts of education, history and resettlement experience between younger and older generations. How does diaspora identity continue across generations, and where does it shift in distant diasporas? This article examines the ways that the identities of former Bhutanese refugees have been sustained and shifted in the context of mass resettlement. It compares radio interviews with younger and older generation diaspora members broadcast on Radio Pahichan, a Nepali-language radio show produced in South Australia. We examine diaspora members who have participated in these public expressions of identity through the overlapping thematic lenses of stories, language, culture, success, and memory. Through an analysis of this material, we show how some aspects of identity serve as a bridge between generations, while others show shifts and breaks in previously similar identities.

Beyond convergence, divergence and resilience: identity construction of the second generation of the Bangladeshi diaspora in a globalised world

ABSTRACT In today’s globalised world, there's a widespread belief about Diaspora communities: that while they may have a global perspective, they still regard their homeland as their eventual destination. However, research on the second generation of the Bangladeshi Diaspora challenges this notion. This study aims to delve into this scholarship and uncovers the reasons behind this counter argument. Specifically, it examines how the first and second generations of the Bangladeshi Diaspora converge, diverge, and adapt in terms of identity formation, survival strategies, and acculturation. Using thematic analysis of existing literature, supplemented by virtual ethnography and semi-structured interviews, thirty in total, this study seeks to develop a nuanced understanding of Diaspora identity and acculturation, without claiming broad generalisations.

Enculturation and ethnic identity: the second-generation Malayalee diaspora in Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT Malayalee immigrants from Kerala, a southern state of India, constitute an ethnic diaspora community in Ontario, Canada. Though Malayalee diaspora is smaller, ccompared to other diasporas in Ontario, including various Indian ethnic diasporas, it is the fastest growing one. The second generation in the Malayalee diaspora is more prone to the host culture by means of acculturation and education. To preserve their own ethnic culture, the Malayalee diasporic communities enculturate their children in multiple ways. The present article explores the process of enculturation of the second-generation Malayalee diaspora happening through family, religion, ethnic organisations, and ethnic clusters. Family is instrumental in the enculturation process for maintaining the ethnic identity of the second-generation Malayalee diaspora by preserving ethnic food, dress, language, values, and other cultural traits. Ethnic associations, ethnic clusters, and religion also make significant efforts to encourage them to maintain ethnic Malayalee identity.

Unrevealed diaspora force? Diaspora education as a source of diaspora identity politics in Lithuania

ABSTRACT Education is a staple in the nation-building process. Therefore, diaspora education is among the main diaspora policy directions in many European states. However, it has been greatly overlooked in diaspora policy studies, as the diaspora policies and institutions are mostly examined from the perspective of the political and economic inclusion of the diaspora. This paper aims to discuss the role of education in diaspora policy studies and diaspora identity politics in Lithuania. This study investigates how the state of origin practices its education policy as a part of identity politics and the diaspora engagement and governance process. The analysis is fostered by the case study of the diaspora education politics in the Republic of Lithuania as an example of an emigration state. The study presents three main groups of mechanisms of using diaspora education for national identity politics, namely, (1) formal, nonformal and informal education; (2) education as a tool of the returning migration and (3) transnational ties with “young ambassadors.”

Letters from Exile: Canadian Media, the Romanian Diaspora, and the Legionary Movement

This article traces the post-Second World War immigration of Romanians to Canada, and addresses themes of self-identification versus outside perception, national identity, and myth-making in the Romanian-Canadian community. It subsequently documents the scrutiny faced by the Romanian diaspora for supposed links to the interwar Romanian far-right Legionary Movement. Beginning in the 1950s, Romanian exiles in Canada forged their own community organizations, churches, and media, in which a unique synthesis of national identity and far-right politics was promoted, placing these new immigrants at the center of intracommunity and inter-ethnic conflict. Following the release of the Deschênes Report on war criminals living in Canada in 1986, as well as a series of unsolved terrorist attacks, Romanian-Canadians were subject to investigations by the mainstream Canadian media for potential involvement in far-right organizing. In the years since the collapse of state socialism in Eastern Europe, significant strands of the Romanian diaspora in Canada have continued to embrace historical figures of the Legionary Movement, synthesizing a diaspora identity flavored by anticommunism, radical right politics, and (ultra-) nationalism well into the post-communist period.

The Role of Martyrdom and Victimhood in the Memory of the Greek Civil War Refugees in Czechoslovakia through the Prism of ‘Refugee’ Literature

This article focusses on the narratives of collective victimhood and martyrdom in the memories of refugees from the Greek Civil War (GCW, 1946–1949) to post-1948 communist Czechoslovakia (later, the Czech Republic). It analyses literary production by refugees, that is, ego-documents, popular history books and fiction, assessing refugees’ motivations in writing their own histories. It investigates the role of collective victimhood and its effect on the diaspora's identity, its aims and its functions. It determines that the narratives of martyrdom were an early representation by GCW refugees to portray themselves as heroic partisans and anti-fascist fighters and gain the high ground on the moral side of the conflict. Such perceptions, however, have in some cases persisted among communist-oriented authors to this day. This article distinguishes them from more personal expressions of collective victimhood, allowing for a plurality of interpretations of their refugee experience as well as a greater variety of motivations for capturing it in written form for a broader audience. This study aims to show how fluid and permeable these narratives of collective victimhood have been and how fundamentally they have affected the constitution of the GCW diaspora's identity.

Afrocentricity and the Quest for Identity in the African Diaspora

Africa as a continent has experienced and still going through lot of negative, derogatory and dehumanizing experiences. This, in turn formed the basis of the identity crises that rock the continent. Some Western philosophers, historians, sociologist and so on are of the opinion that Africans do not have an identity nor history of their own; this is emboldened in the idea that Africa is not part of world history. This view may not necessarily be unconnected with the clash of culture occasioned by the colonization of the continent of Africa by the Western world. Against this backdrop, the discourse examines what constitute African identity before the advent of colonialism. This is done to unravel the content and context of Africa(n) identity before the subjugation of the continent’s identity by the colonial master. This search, which seems to have formed the basis of the contemporary contention of the Africans’ diaspora wanting to know ifs they are truly Africans or a hybrid of different cultures remain the fulcrum of this discourse. In driving home the argument of the paper, different philosophies such as afrocentricity, afropolitanism, negritude, transnationalism as articulated by African scholars are reviewed with the aim of reconstructing the misconception and misrepresentation of the images alluded to Africa. Hence, using the analytical method of philosophical investigation, the paper project afrocentricity as a philosophy that is basic to the quest of identity in the African diaspora than afropolitanism.

Time for Tea: Representations of Postcolonial and Chinese Diaspora Culture and Identity in Chuah Guat Eng’s Echoes of Silence

Tea, the second most consumed beverage in the world, originates from China, and was then brought all over the world through trade, affecting the many different cultures that it encounters along the way. The way a person takes their tea can often reveal parts of their cultural identity and upbringing. This paper aims to examine the representations of the hybrid identities of the Chinese Diaspora in Malaysia through a close reading of tea scenes and tea culture in Chuah Guat Eng’s first novel, Echoes of Silence: A Malaysian Novel, first published in 1994. The novel explores the complex race relations and postcolonial politics and identity in Malaysia and provides an excellent springboard for the examination of Malaysian literary cultural politics, as well as postcolonial issues such as cultural hybridity, and the way that culture spreads and is spread from one part of the world to another and is manifested in diaspora identities. Through such an exploration, I hope to examine the negotiation between the hybridizing culture of being overseas Chinese as well as a British subject simultaneously in relation to representations of tea consumption and culture in Anglophone literature, which may provide more insight into the mentality of Anglophone Malaysian writers concerning issues of cultural identity and diaspora.

Champion of the Country: Mediated Sports Game Watching and National Identity Construction for the Chinese Diaspora

This study explores how watching international sports is related to the identity of overseas Chinese. Starting from the social significance of mediated sports, the article constructs its conceptual framework through the symbolic power of sports, media events, imagined community, networked publics, and characteristics of the diasporic community. Based on this, the study carried out 10 interviews on the Chinese diaspora in the United Kingdom, summarized the mechanisms and ways of linking mediated sports with national unity, and revealed the factors that will probably cause change to this connection. The results show that the symbolic power of sports and the consciousness as Asian are ties of diaspora identity construction and form patriotism in sporting contexts. Meanwhile, the degree of integration into local society and their community preference are influencing the status of collective identity enhancement brought by mediated sports.

A Study of Language and Identity as Neocolonial Means in Firoozeh Dumas’ Funny in Farsi

The phenomenon of migration, whether by choice or necessity, has shaped various spheres, giving rise to a corpus referred to as migrant literature. Many authors of this genre explore the sociopolitical contrasts between their current and native lands, sharing their experiences while sometimes allegedly concealing some aspects of the immigration process. This has sparked contentious debates that extend beyond the literary realm. Firoozeh Dumas’ well-known memoir, Funny in Farsi, humorously portrays the Iranian-American family’s journey through cultural disparities. In an attempt to reappraise this light-hearted approach to Dumas’ work, this research utilizes Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s language studies and Milton Gordon’s analysis of identity in diaspora. This study concludes that the Englishness of Dumas’ memoir and its narrative’s normalization of assimilation in the host country, align with the neo-colonial politics of the West theorized by Kwame Nkrumah. These neo-colonial dynamics of power in turn can potentially disrupt the ongoing decolonization process.

An Investigation into the Relationship between Diaspora and Identity with Reference to the Iranian Diaspora

Abstract The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between diaspora and identity with reference to the Iranian diaspora as a case study. Although there has been a recent growth in the study of ideational factors and their effects on sociopolitical issues, identity remains understudied within the mainstream literature on diaspora studies, international relations (IR) and foreign policy analysis (FPA). The aim is to challenge the purely realist and power-based explanations that have dominated the discourse by introducing the notion of identity and exploring it in relation to the Iranian diaspora. The paper’s novel approach lies in its categorisation of Iranian diaspora identity into three main components: nationalist (ancient Iran) tendencies, religious (Islamic-Shiite) tendencies and secular (Western) tendencies. The identity components of Iranians abroad and their interaction with the homeland are relatively comparable to those of their compatriots at home, showing intersecting areas of commonality and difference.

The Lambi Model: Haiti, Temporality, and a Holistic Methodology

Abstract: With Haiti at its helm, this article reimagines the conch shell as a methodology of resistance and renewal. The Lambi model is presented to interpret temporal pathways and ancestral practices within African Diaspora lives. Time and space serve as axes of intersection, connecting and delineating points of departure surrounding race, space, power, and freedom. A framework is established through the works of three Haitian writers and activists: Jemima Pierre, Michel-Rolph Trouillot, and Edwidge Danticat. Grounded in an Antillean feminist lens, this formulation of Diaspora identity carries the cadence of a fluid and holistic orientation with ontological, epistemological, and pedagogical implications.

Reframing diaspora cinema: Towards a theoretical framework

This article reviews how the concept of “diaspora cinema” has featured in academic discourses over the past 30 years, examining its underpinning paradigms. In the wake of a transnational and postcolonial shift within film studies, “diaspora cinema” has been increasingly understood in its imbrication with Third Cinema, postcolonial cinema, transnational cinema, accented cinema, intercultural cinema, cinema of transvergence, etc. While critically mapping out these descriptive conceptualisations and models, this article advances an understanding of “diaspora cinema” as an instrumental framework to grasp how diaspora identities, cultures, and spaces are discursively co-constructed through cinematic practices, rather than as a cinematic category per se.

Exploring Diaspora Identities and Media Consumption among Indian Immigrants in the United States

This study delves into the experiences of Asian Indian immigrants residing in the United States and explores the intricate relationship between diasporic identities and media consumption. Grounded in the framework of cultural proximity, social identity theories, and the uses and gratifications perspective, the research investigates the viewership preferences and motivations of Asian Indian immigrants towards Indian television programming. Despite their extensive time living abroad, these immigrants actively choose ethnic programming, specifically Indian television accessible through satellite dishes, as a means to reinforce their ethnic identity, stay informed about India, and nurture a sense of connection to their cultural roots. By providing post-2014 insights into the dynamics of Asian Indian social identity, television consumption patterns, and the uses and gratifications derived from ethnic media, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how diasporic individuals actively engage with media content to fulfill their needs for cultural preservation, reaffirmation of identity, and a continued link with their country of origin. The findings have implications for media organizations aiming to cater to diverse audiences and for scholars examining the interplay between media consumption and diasporic identities within an ever-evolving media landscape.

«ЛИЧНАЯ ДРАМА, ОПРЕДЕЛЕННАЯ ИСТОРИЕЙ»: ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННЫЙ МЕТОД Ф. РОТА В РОМАНЕ «АМЕРИКАНСКАЯ ПАСТОРАЛЬ»

The article analyzes the implementation of Philip Roth’s (1933–2018) artistic method in the novel “American Pastoral”, which connects the historical events with a personal family drama and problematizes the Jewish identity in diaspora. The analysis shows that several key events from the history of the United States (the second half of the 20th century) were used as a conceptual basis for narrative structure and for the set of characters. World War II, the Vietnam War, which Roth had not previously discussed in a comprehensive manner, the 1967 Newark riots, and the Watergate scandal turn out to be not a panoramic background, but a dynamic force. References to the events help the narrator – Nathan Zuckerman, Roth’s alter ego – form a non-linear plot: the large-scale events are to center each part of the novel and determine the nature of the period and the characters. The protagonist of the novel is Seymour “The Swede” Levov, an entrepreneur, a veteran of World War II, the embodiment of the American dream, symbolizing good old America during the times of economic growth. Seymour's pastoral life is destroyed by the inevitability of historical process that intrudes the family idyll: a terrorist attack committed by Seymour's daughter Meredith in support of the Vietnamese people “returns the war” to Lyndon Johnson and breaks the family ties. Attempts to find the root of evil retrospectively lead Seymour and Zuckerman to the idea of the cruelty of American history and the atomic nature of society. The ongoing dialogue between Jewish and American cultures is represented by the images of Seymour and Merry as both, individualized and collective images, actors of history who (re)shape the American dream.

Cultural Hybridization and Political Upheaval in Khan's City of Spies

Throughout history, political instability has been a persistent issue for diasporic communities, exacerbating the challenges they already face. The present research endeavours to examine the impact of political turmoil on diasporic communities, with a particular focus on its role in shaping cultural identity, hybridity, and conflicting loyalties. The present research employs a qualitative analysis to amalgamate a substantial corpus of literature and deduces that diasporas are significantly impacted by political instability and violence, resulting in adverse outcomes such as relocation, trauma, and cultural identity loss. This study delves into the complexity of diasporic identity and the notion of hybridity, frequently linked to diaspora communities. Empirical evidence suggests that diasporic communities frequently experience a sense of estrangement and encounter competing allegiances due to their inability to fully assimilate their cultural heritage into their novel surroundings. Research has demonstrated the significance of comprehending diasporic identities and the obstacles that individuals encounter, particularly within the framework of contemporary political instability.The research findings highlight the need for policymakers and stakeholders to take into account the distinctive perspectives and experiences of diasporas, particularly in light of current political unrest. In order to comprehend and help diaspora groups, it also emphasizes the need for additional research on diaspora identity, cultural hybridity, and competing loyalties.

Polish Organizations in Ireland. A Stimulus for Research on the National Security of the Republic of Poland

The activities for Poland’s national security, including its independence and sovereignty, observed over the last centuries, justify reflection on the relevance of the undertakings of the Polish diaspora communities. Polish organizations operating in many countries, thanks to the cultivation of national identity, were able to contribute to Poland regaining its independence in 1918, support the fight against the Germans and Russians during World War II, and then act for liberation from communism. Therefore, the interest of the state assumes care for the Polish community abroad, both its connection with the country and strengthening its sense of responsibility for the homeland. The article presents the characteristics of Polish organizations in Ireland, where Polish emigration has rapidly increased in recent decades. It is stated that the Polish diaspora communities need systemic support from the Polish state through actions to ensure the integrity of the national identity of the Polish diaspora. In the Polish organisations, it is necessary to recognise the strength to promote Polishness, the concern for Poland’s national interest, but also the diverse potential for dealing with threats to Poland.

An Incessant Historical Struggle for a Jewish Bantustan: The Yiddish Policemen’s Union

This article tries to investigate the connection space and time as they pertain to the fictitious world of Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union (2007). The book shows significant concerns regarding the existence of Israel as well as the concept of a Jewish state. By analysing the function of eruvim in the construction and contestation of Jewish identity in Chabon's postmodern detective novel from 2007, this study argues that Chabon creates a universe in which geographical place complicates rather than simplifies Jewish identity in diaspora and postmodernity. This study accomplishes its goal by analysing the function of eruvim in analysing Chabon's postmodern detective novel from 2007. So, the Jewish Alaska that exists in Chabon's imagination has a significant link to the contentious assertions that he has made regarding the contemporary geographical state of Israel.

Ezekiel, Ethnicity, and Identity

The written sources from the ancient Near East are for the most part authored from the perspective of the dominant group and yield a very limited view on people’s identities from an emic point of view that would correspond to their own self-identification. Self-defined minority groups in Mesopotamia have not left behind written evidence about themselves and their identity strategies. A notable exception to this rule is the book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. This book documents an intense and enduring attempt at reconstructing the identity of a dislocated group of people. The book of Ezekiel is produced by a group that constructed a diaspora identity from the early sixth century onwards, whether in Babylonia or in Jerusalem; in any case, it is written in an environment where the adaptation of a wide array of Mesopotamian linguistic, iconographic, literary, and theological motifs was possible. Wherever and whenever the book of Ezekiel was produced, it presents itself as a document of an explicit identity strategy of a minority group, unique among written sources from any part of Mesopotamia. It can be read as an example of the survival strategy of a group that distinguishes itself from others by way of self-reidentification. The book does not reflect a stable and universally shared identity of the Judeans. On the contrary, it creates and constructs an inner-Judean antagonism between Ezekiel’s in-group and the delegitimized out-group. The book of Ezekiel, therefore, does not convey much about the integration of the Judean minority into Babylonian society but all the more about conflicts among Judeans themselves.