Global diasporas : an introduction / Robin Cohen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cohen, Robin, 1944-

Contributor:

George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

Series:

Global diasporas (Routledge (Firm))

Global diasporas

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Emigration and immigration.

Refugees.

Ethnicity.

Physical Description:

xvi, 219 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

London : Routledge, 2008.

Summary:

In a perceptive and arresting analysis, Robin Cohen introduces his distinctive approach to the study of the world's diasporas. The book investigates the changing meanings of the concept, and the contemporary diasporic condition, including case studies of Jews, Armenians, Africans, Chinese, British, Indians, Lebanese and Caribbean peoples.

The First edition of this book had a major impact on diaspora studies and was the foundational text in an emerging research and teaching field. This second edition extends, and clarifies Cohen's argument, addresses some critiques and outlines new perspectives for the study of diasporas. The book has also been made more student-friendly with illustrations, guided readings and suggested essay questions.

Contents:

1 Four phases of diaspora studies 1

The prototypical diaspora 2

The expanded concept of diaspora 4

Social constructionist critiques of diaspora 8

The consolidation phase 11

Conclusion: the tools to delineate a diaspora 15

Further reading 19

Questions to think about 19

2 Classical notions of diaspora: transcending the Jewish tradition 21

'Babylon' as a site of oppression 22

'Babylon' as a site of creativity 23

The Jewish diaspora and Christianity 24

The Jewish diaspora and Islam 27

Ashkenazi fates 30

Conclusion 34

Further reading 36

Questions to think about 36

3 Victim diasporas: Africans and Armenians 39

Origins of the African diaspora 40

The African diaspora: homeland and return 43

Other aspects of the African diaspora 46

The creation of the American diaspora 48

After the massacres: Armenians at home and abroad 51

Soviet Armenia and after 56

Conclusion 57

Further reading 58

Questions to think about 59

4 Labour and imperial diasporas: indentured Indians and the British 61

A new system of slavery? 62

The songs of Ramayana and political outcomes 65

Imperial diasporas 68

The settlement of the British Empire 69

The end of the dominion diaspora 74

Conclusion 77

Further reading 80

Questions to think about 80

5 Trade and business diasporas: Chinese and Lebanese 83

The making of the Chinese diaspora 84

The Chinese as minorities 88

The great Lebanese emigration 91

The Lebanese diaspora: butterflies and caterpillars 94

Conclusions: ethnic entrepreneurs and trade diasporas 97

Further reading 99

Questions to think about 99

6 Diasporas and their homelands: Zionists and Sikhs 103

Birth traumas: can Israel be a 'normal' state? 104

Israel and the diaspora 106

The origins of the Sikh diaspora 112

Sikhs: the lure of homeland 114

Conclusion 119

Further reading 120

Questions to think about 121

7 Deterritorialized diasporas: the black Atlantic and the lure of Bombay 123

The Caribbean: migration and diaspora 124

African-Caribbeans in the USA 126

African-Caribbeans in the UK 127

Caribbean peoples in the Netherlands and France 128

The black Atlantic thesis 130

Sindhis and Paris in Bombay 135

Conclusion 137

Further reading 138

Questions to think about 139

8 Mobilizing diasporas in a global age 141

Diasporas in a globalized economy 142

New forms of international migration 144

Cosmopolitanism, global cities and the bridging role of diasporas 146

Religion and diasporas 150

Conclusion 154

Further reading 156

Questions to think about 156

9 Studying diasporas: old methods and new topics 159

How and why do typologies work? 160

Comparing diasporas: Wittgenstein's rope 161

Diasporas as agents of development 168

The role of diasporas in international politics 169

Negative reactions to the growth of diasporas 170

Final remarks 172

A literature guide 174

Questions to think about 177.

Notes:

Previous ed.: London: UCL, 1997.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the George Clapp Vaillant Book Fund.

ISBN:

9780415435505

0415435501

041543551X

9780203928943

0203928946

9780415435512

OCLC:

180470689