The Politics of Ethnicity in a Transnational World Alan Simmons York University

First, a One Minute Summary… Thesis: An examination of ethnicity “politics” in a transnational world leads to these questions: 1.Who are we? 2.How do we relate to others?

From Elan Stavans & Lalo Alcarz (2000: 1) Who are we?

How do we relate to others?

Outline of Presentation 1. Framework: ethnicity changing in a transnational world 2. Empirical cases: the ethnicity of Latin Americans and Caribbeans in Canada 3. Conclusions: new concepts and measures suggested by this analysis

Framework Questions 1. What is ethnicity? 2. What forces shape ethnicity? 3. Who are the main actors? 4. What are the main current issues?

What is Ethnicity? Ethnicity as a “political” process involves: Social construction of a field of ethnic groups The field changes across historical periods Membership is by imposition and/or by voluntary choice Group boundaries may be rigid or fluid Individual identification may be with one or many groups

Characteristics of ethnicity in an era of intense transnationalism: New ethnic labels are emerging Some old labels are retained; others are abandoned Voluntary choice is becoming more important Group boundaries are increasingly fluid Identification is increasingly with multiple groups New ethnic formations are often hybrids

What forces shape ethnicity? 1.Political ideologies: e.g., liberalism 2.Social processes: e.g., transnationalism 3.Social actors, including –Dominators –Minorities –Egalitarians, including; Assimilationists Multiculturalists

Positions of Actors Shaping Ethnicity Egalitarians Domin- ators Minorities ETHNICITY FIELD

A main issue: What kind of multicultural society will emerge?

2. Case Studies Background –Numbers, flows & SES indicators Latin American ethnicity –Census data –Survey data: Central American adults –Survey data: Latin American youth Caribbean ethnicity –Survey data (adult Jamaicans)

Immigrant Numbers Total immigrants in Canada: 5,448,480 From Central & South America 304,650 From Caribbean 294,050 Total 598,700 (Source: 2001 Census)

Total Caribbean C. Am. S. Am.

Socio-economic Indicators for Selected Ethnic Groups in Toronto Central Am. S.Am. & Mexican African, Black & Caribbean Total City % with university complete % university grad’s (ages 20-24) Unemployment rate AGES Unemployment rate AGES % in low-skilled jobs WOMEN MEN % of families below poverty line Median family income$31,500$36,300$23,400$51,600 Numbers7,39559,030226,5252,363,870 Source: Ornstein (2000)

Canadian Residents Who Could be Considered Ethnically Latin American or Hispanic Based on Information in the 2001 Census

Self-Identification as Visible Minority or Not Among Latin American Born Residents of Canada (2001 Census) Central American South American Not visible minority (European, etc.) Chinese Black Latin American Arab South, West and Other Asian Visible minority, n.i.e Multiple visible minorities

Ethnic Identities of Guatemalans and Salvadorians in Toronto SAGIT Survey, Toronto, N = 168 Heads of Household LabelIdentifies with label (%) NoSometimesAlwaysTotal Guatemalan or Salvadorian Latin American Latino Central American Hispano Canadian

Latin American Youth: Attachment to Ethnic Origin Labels Identity Label Attachment to label (%) Not at allA littleVery muchTotal Spanish Hispanic Latino Source: Survey of Latin American Youths in Toronto, 2000 (N=80)

Latin American Youth: Attachment to New Ethnic Labels Identity Label Attachment to label (%) Not at allA littleVery muchTotal Canadian Hispanic Canadian Latino Canadian Source: Survey of Latin American Youths in Toronto, 2000 (N=80)

Contextual Identity of Jamaican Immigrants Not at all Very Little Some- what Very much How Jamaican do you feel when among Canadian born? How Canadian do you feel when among other West Indians? Jamaican Remittance Survey, Toronto, N = 123

Source: Jamaican Remittance Survey, Toronto, N = 123

3.Conclusions Re Framework Ethnicity as a quest for voice and security? Ethnicity as a bridge to acceptance? Re Measures Add measures of strength of identification with different ethnic origins? Add measures of strength of identification with current nation of residence?

END Send comments to: Alan Simmons