“So What If I Am Laz?” Irony, Mockery and Humor in Ethnic Integration and Insubordination

This study argues that the ethnic Laz in Turkey resort to irony, humor and mockery to cope with and negotiate the stereotypes, ethnic humor and mockery they encounter in their interactions with outsiders. The trope of irony, humor and mockery have enabled the Laz to navigate the national and regional hierarchies and reproduce their symbolic boundaries regardless of the common and ardent appropriation of Turkishness. In so doing, the Laz can more subtly challenge the official ideology of uniformity. While the public use of Lazuri is still considered a threat to the negotiated boundaries of Lazness, new instruments present creative displays of their ethnic capital which do not contradict present day principles of Turkish nationalism, and offer a legitimate sharing of intimacy without embarrassment. The Laz, like other non-Turkish Muslim peoples of the Black Sea region, abandoned their politically threatening ethnic distinctions, appropriated the capital of Turkishness through their performances, and coped with mockery and stigma by ironizing differences and negotiating, trivializing or selectively appropriating the stereotypes imposed upon them. Ironically, they have “out-performed” ethnic Turks in certain ways, in their search for acceptance as Turks, achieving upward mobility and avoiding forms of stigmatization.

Conciliatory Amalgamation

Published in 2015, Padi Guli's A Hundred Years of Bloodline tells the story of Fatima, a Uyghur woman's journey to unpack her family history while struggling to understand the status of ethnic minorities in the larger fabric of multiethnic China. The novel concludes with a positive message calling for ethnic integration. This adoption of a state-sanctioned concept of ethnic integration is what this article calls conciliatory amalgamation; it privileges a rhetoric of multiethnicism that centers on national unity and economic progress. This article reads the novel against the PRC's ethnic minority policy to examine the implications of the protagonist's cultural, linguistic, and geopolitical border-crossing as she comes to terms with ethnic amalgamation as a necessary mode of survival. This allows the novel to be read as a symptom of Padi Guli's status as a Sinophone Uyghur writer who establishes herself within the dominant tradition of Chinese literature. As one of the few prominent Sinophone Uyghur writers, she inevitably becomes a token that sustains the rhetoric of Chinese literature as inclusive and diverse. Along this line of thought, the article argues that Padi Guli's status as a writer mirrors that of her protagonist as they both adopt a conciliatory attitude toward amalgamation.

Temporal Fluctuations in Context Ethnic Diversity Over Three Decades Predict Implicit National Inclusion of Asian Americans

The present research examined whether temporal fluctuations in context ethnic diversity account for current levels of implicit ethnic-American associations. Temporal fluctuations in ethnic diversity at the metropolitan level were assessed using data from four decennial U.S. censuses (1980-2010) and distinguishing three dimensions of context ethnic diversity (minority representation, variety, and integration). Project Implicit data (2011-2017) indexed the extent to which American identity was implicitly associated with European Americans over Asian Americans (i.e., American = White associations). Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling (N = 152,011, nested within 226 metropolitan areas). Steeper increases in the proportion of Asian Americans were related to weaker implicit (but stronger explicit) American = White associations. Increases in ethnic integration accounted for stronger implicit American = White associations when integration fluctuations reflected accelerating rather than decelerating trends. These results suggest that current levels of implicit ethnic-national associations are linked to complex patterns of ethnic diversity fluctuations.

An Estonian-Russian Language Club as a Venue for Grassroots Ethnic Integration

One third of Estonian residents identify Russian as their mother tongue, and despite having lived in Estonia for decades, many of them are not fluent in the Estonian language and choose to remain stateless rather than obtain Estonian citizenship by passing the state language exam. Ethnic segregation in Estonia continues to be a matter of bitter political debate, not least in the context of tensions with neighboring Russia and pressure from the EU to solve the problem. While a lot of state resources are being spent on what the Estonian-speaking public often perceives as vain attempts at integration of Russophones, several civil society initiatives have recently emerged to provide platforms for informal language socialization. In this article, I focus on the case study of the Keelegrupp (Language Group) which provides a venue for interaction between Estonian and Russian speakers, to analyze what makes this informal organization more successful at responding to the challenges of language-based segregation than professional, state-funded initiatives. Ethnographic documentation and analysis of this initiative is essential given that its experience and structure are highly applicable for and transferrable to many other states with similar situations of ethnic segregation, not the least the neighboring Baltic countries.

Perceived Readiness of Educated Youth towards Ethnic Integration in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic society hence the ethnic integration has been a hot topic for decades. By 2021, it has been 73 years after the independence from British empires, however, natives still struggle for the reconciliation among themselves. Often occurred ethnic clashes usually account for a huge social and economic cost. Various scholars have highlighted that youth is highly active in initiating ethnic clashes. And, it is quoted specifically for the ‘Educated youth’ in Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this study explores the perceptions of ‘multi-ethnic, educated youth’ in heightening ethnic integration in Sri Lanka. This study utilized quantitative research approach and survey method. Primary data was mainly used for the study and collected through an online questionnaire. 100 multi-ethnic youth who are studying in higher education institutions in Sri Lanka selected as the sample using random sampling technique. The readiness of respondents was basically measured through their perceptions with respect to the social integration model proposed by Awang et al (2019). Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing data. The results showed that the overall readiness of educated youth in promoting ethnic integration is high in Sri Lankan context. The respondents are almost ready for the social acceptance and cultural appreciation levels of the model. However, they have showed, relatively a slight attraction towards compromisation and adaptation levels for which a high degree of ethnic tolerance is required. Therefore, it can be concluded that the majority of educated youth are social extroverts and are aware the importance of integration. However, since they showed a little attraction towards the upper layers of integration pyramid, there is a need of re-evaluating existing social integration policies. So that, some policy recommendations are suggested to enhance more operational activities in reconciliation process to reach the upper levels of ethnic integration (compromization and adaptation) in Sri Lankan context.

THE CONCEPT OF ETHNIC INTEGRATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ISLAMIC-BASED DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA

This paper aims to identify the concept of ethnic integration from the perspective of Islamic-based development with reference to the current situation in Malaysia. This ethnic integration has become one of the important aspects of the global and local agenda, especially in Malaysia in conveying the message of peace for all mankind. The identification of the concept of ethnic integration from the perspective of Islamic-based development can be divided into three main components, tasawur, principles, and goals. The perspective of Islamic -based development is seen to place an aspect of comprehensive development that is based on oneness to Allah SWT, based on Islamic philosophy, and sourced from Islamic epistemology. Islamic-based development differs from Western conventional development because Islamic-based development integrates both physical or material aspects and spiritual or spiritual aspects in all development activities. In the context of this paper, the integration of society, especially those of various races and ethnicities is an important agenda in conveying the message of unity and peace for mankind, especially in Malaysia which has a multi-ethnic society. Therefore, this paper tries to describe how Islam emphasizes the value of wasatiyyah and the importance of integration, especially between Muslims and non -Muslims, especially in Malaysia in various aspects of their lives, including in the aspect of development.