Suchergebnisse

▪ Abstract  This paper reviews studies of ethnicity in plural societies. The literature concentrates on the social networks of ethnic groups, the use of social capital derived from these networks, and ethnic identity. I give particular attention to studies that consider how interpersonal networks within ethnic communities influence the degree of closure in social boundaries and the degree to which ethnic identity is retained. Most of the studies considered here have been published during the past two decades. However, a few earlier studies are considered so as to frame recent work in an appropriate context. Two main research foci characterize contemporary studies—forms of economic action undertaken by the immigrant generation and the socialization experiences of their offspring. Related areas of study also addressed in this review include how participation in ethnic churches, metropolitan and regional concentrations of ethnic populations, and transnationalism influence ethnic groups' experiences. I conclude by suggesting a few directions for future research.

Contributed articles presented at the Round Table: 2016 on Identites, Ethnic Boundaries, and the State, organized by Indian National Confederation and Academy of Anthropologists, as part of the Indian Anthropological Congress, 2016, held at Assam University Diphu Campus during February 21-23, 2016

The theme of this paper is on one of the most elementary questions in the study of ethnicity and nationalism, namely how to approach and assess ethnic boundaries'. Should we perceive them as an advantageous or a pernicious tool in politics? To answer that question, we need a reference point; advantageous or pernicious in relation to whom? I will here use those people(-s) who are so marginalized that their voices are practically silenced, and the way in which the political reconstruction, conversion, or deconstruction of ethnic boundaries is favorable or not to them; the margins of the margin. Do ethnic boundaries, and particularly their political usage, illuminate and create preconditions for uplifting, visualization or in any other way favor the margins of the margin? And if yes, how does one handle the element of violence which is involved in the politicization and defense of such boundaries? On the contrary, if we suggest that ethnic boundaries should be deconstructed, how do we deal with the causes of ethnic boundary construction? In order to illuminate these problems, two approaches will be critically discussed and applied: Post-Colonialism and Conflict Resolution.

This article investigates the problem of ethnic boundary making in a changing context. Our case is Boston's North End, a historically Italian neighborhood undergoing changes to its social and physical environment, making the ethnic definition of neighborhood identity and belonging more difficult though not less salient. Consequently, participants in the workings of the neighborhood—residents, business owners, politicians—face challenges of both boundary placement (who is Italian and who is not?), as well as cultural content (what does it mean to be "Italian"?). Rather than viewing Italian ethnicity as simply weakening over time, we argue that the North End shows ethnicity is in a stage of category divergence, where the still‐dominant ethnic identity is juxtaposed not against another ethnic out‐group, but at various times against boundaries of class and race, commercial and community values, even city political boundaries. Drawing on ethnographic research and in‐depth interviews, we describe three group identity frames that illustrate these processes and reveal how Italian ethnicity continues to animate discourse and action in the neighborhood.

Ethnic boundary change and panethnicity -- The durability of ethnic boundaries in the pre-1968 era -- The emergence of organizational panethnicity -- The ethnic-panethnic dynamics of collective action -- Ethnic organizations and the flexibility of group boundaries -- Panethnicity and beyond

A partir de données amassées en questionnant trente ménages sino‐vietnamiens de Victoria, ainsi que leurs parrains, cette étude veut montrer que les approches primor‐dialiste et circonstantialiste devraient être combinées, afin de donner une image plus exacte de l'identité ethnique et des frontières de groupe des immigrants en Amérique du Nord. Ce sont des besoins instrumentaux qui expliquent pourquoi les Sino‐Vietnamiens ont utilisé divers attributs culturels afin de développer des liens privilégiés avec les Chinois de Victoria et les Vietnamiens d'origine. Par contre, ce sont des besoins émotifs qui expliquent la retention, par les Sino‐Vietnamiens, de leurs liens primordiaux et leur dissociation de tous les étrangers qui ne sont pas de la même origine régionale ou ethnique qu'eux.Using data collected from thirty Sino‐Vietnamese households and their sponsors in Victoria, this study suggests that both primordialist and circumstantialist approaches should be combined to give a more accurate picture of ethnic identity and group boundary maintenance among immigrant groups in North America. While instrumental needs best explain why Sino‐Vietnamese used various cultural attributes as charters to cultivate links with the local Chinese and the ethnic Vietnamese, emotional needs best explain why the Sino‐Vietnamese still retained their former, narrower primordial ties, dissociating themselves on a primary level from all outsiders who were not of the same regional or ethnic origin.

The question of boundaries - physical or political - has become fertile ground in the analysis of Chinese history and society. These essays cover the early decades of the Zhou dynasty to the early centuries after the Manchu conquest.