Navigating New Terrain
Ontological Citizenship and Globalization: A Realignment of Rights and Responsibilities between the Individual and the State(s) in Twenty-first Century Migration and Transnationalism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Saeed Khan
Migration and transnationalism in the twenty-first century is catalyzing the emergence of “poly-citizens,” possessing legal-judicial relations in more than one state and capable of multiple spaces in which the rights/responsibilities interaction may occur. This phenomenon may facilitate the process whereby a citizen may derive the benefits in one state, i.e. where he/she resides, and yet fulfill the obligations of being a citizen in another state, often the country of origin or ethno-cultural affiliation, altering the conventional reciprocity of rights and responsibility within a single state and may create an asymmetrical exercise of citizenship, and redefining it beyond merely its ontological or legal categories. Moreover, tangible impacts on the allocation of resources and their transfer between states by such citizens may affect perceptions of national allegiance and loyalty as well as notions of belonging and nationality-based identity. This paper analyzes the evolving morphology and ethos of the citizen within the global space as transnationalism and increased migration redefine the relationship of the citizen with the state or with multiple states, examining second- and third-generation Indians in the Persian Gulf Region. It will also explore and distinguish between single-state citizens and citizens claiming citizenship in multiple states and how the exchange of rights and responsibilities vis-à-vis the state are affected in each category. Finally, this paper will offer a functional definition of these emerging expressions of citizenship that allows for the development of new models of socio-cultural engagement, inclusion, and integration, in both national and transnational contexts, i.e. ontological citizenship.
Heading North from the Northern Triangle but Detained in the Intermediate Zone : The Phenomenon of Central American Migrants in Mexico
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Carlos Parra, Stacey Wilson Forsberg, Stacey Wilson Forsberg
The Northern Triangle region of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras continues to suffer from poor political and socioeconomic conditions, which drive ongoing migration toward the north. The flow of migrants is not likely to stop or slow down despite the various autonomous operations launched by the Mexican government to counteract it and despite those operations subsidized by the United States, such as the "National Institute of Migration" (INM), created in July 2014 under the "Southern Border Program" (PFS) and supported by then President Obama. What is new about this phenomenon is that Mexico is no longer a transit country for Central American migrants, but rather a receiving country where these people must exist in a state of precarious limbo. Our paper focuses on the estimated 300,000 Central American asylum-seekers who stay in Mexico and do not reach the coveted "north." Informed by a sociopolitical framework and the narratives of migrants residing temporarily in shelters in central Mexico, our paper is twofold, exploring how Central American migrants from the Northern Triangle negotiate the new environment in Mexico, including economic survival, violations of basic human rights, and the bureaucratic hurdles and examining the economic and sociopolitical impact in Mexico caused by the Central American population. This paper demonstrates that not only is Mexico unprepared for migrants and hostile toward them, but the effectiveness of anti-immigration legislation in Mexico very much depends on the financial and logistical support of the United States.
Has Identity Politics Diminished in the Post-LTTE Peace-building Process in Sri Lanka?
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Tanay Katiyar
The Sri Lankan Civil War that lasted for almost three decades had its domestic, regional, and global ramifications. The end of the cessation movement has equally posed enormous challenges given the urgent need to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation for nearly 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and reintegration of 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres with civil society. Resolution of these issues has been argued to be nearly successful. However, the major challenge for the long term is building peace and harmony in the Sri Lankan Society. The civil war may have formally ended, but the root causes of the conflict still remain in society. Sri Lanka has experienced negative peace since 2009 i.e absence of war and violence, but little or no promotion of harmony and peace . The transition of the nature of the cause of the conflict from an ethnic identity one to satisfying ulterior political motives has only led to further marginalization of the resident Tamilian population. Rehabilitation measures taken by the government have been met with skepticism by the affected as they believe that domestic measures aren’t doing them proper justice. The paper explores how the concept of ethnic identity and the feeling of ethnic separatism play a vital role in the peace building process that is still underway in present day Sri Lanka. Further deliberations include how identity politics (employed in domestic politics) still play a role in the peace building process in the post conflict scenario; and whether its role has downscaled.
And Then the Muslim Immigrants Arrived: The Image of Muslim Immigrants in Parliamentary Debates in France, Canada, and the United States, 1994-2017
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Abdie Kazemipur
The rapid increase in the population of Muslim immigrants in North America has created new debates in Canada and the United States. As part of these new debates, many of the long-held concepts and policies are challenged and/or being reformulated, including immigration and multiculturalism policies, secularism, dual citizenship, religious freedom, and so on. The current study involves a content analysis of all the parliamentary debates involving Muslims that have happened in three countries of Canada, The United States, and France, in the period 1994-2017. The study draws on the thematic analysis of more than 12,000 documents -- the transcriptions of parliamentary debates -- using the qualitative research software NVivo. The emergent themes, the difference among the three countries, and some policy and research implications of the study will be discussed.
