A Muslim Diaspora in Australia: Bosnian Migration and Questions of Identity

ISBN-13: 9781784537623 / Angielski / Twarda / 2017 / 192 str.

Lejla Voloder

Opis

In a world of increasingly mixed identities, what does it mean to belong? As western democracies increasingly curtail their support for multiculturalism, how can migrants establish belonging as citizens? A Muslim Diaspora in Australia explores how a particular migrant group has faced the challenges of belonging. The author illustrates how Bosnian migrants in Australia have sought to find places for themselves as migrants, as refugees, and as Muslims, in Australia and Australian society. Challenging the methodological nationalism that tends to dominate discussions of migrant identities, the author exposes the ways in which dignity emerges as a dominant concern for people as they relate to varied local, national and translational contexts. Very little is known about how migrants themselves read and react to the multiple challenges of belonging and this pioneering work offers a timely and much needed critical insight into what it means to belong.

Spis treści

Contents Introduction Don’t you know where you are! Questions of identity Researching at home Researching as an insider Insiders and outsiders Cultural or cognitive discordance? Assimilating migrants or assimilating knowledge? Chapter 1 Legal and symbolic citizenship The meeting of Muslim minds Ethnic communities in a multicultural society Do you know who you are? Diaspora Bosnian diaspora Muslim diaspora Bosniak communities Interpreting meetings, interpreting identities Chapter 2 Muslims in public places Designating Muslims and Muslim names Perpetuating marginality Islam is in my heart, not on my sleeve Comparing secularisms Australia as a Christian country An a-religious Bosnian Muslim community Muslim but a-religious A-religious Muslims in Yugoslavia Was religion a private matter? Humanity not religious identities Chapter 3 Fear in the suburbs Politicization of religious identities Disruptions to citizenship Sensing fear toward the census Aunt Huria’s fears Chapter 4 With peace A Muslim reversion Essential identities Inflexible Muslims Emotions of Islam Rationalizing Islam Chapter 5 Eid celebration Mobilizing multicultural Muslims Emotions of ethno national identity Deference to the state The trouble with citizens and Muslim identity Conclusion The state of nations Organizing communities Muslimness of Muslims Individuals within communities Bibliography Index