Reluctant Diasporas of Northern Ireland: Migrant Narratives of Home, Conflict, Difference

摘要

This article discusses diaspora with specific regard to Northern Ireland as a contested homeland, now vaunted as a post-conflict zone. Taking a practice-led approach, I examine evidence of diasporic consciousness and transnational practices through life-narrative interviews with migrants from Northern Ireland during two studies on contemporary migration (2004-08). I conclude that developing a sense of belonging to the Irish diaspora may be problematic for Catholics, Protestants and others originating within the contested space of Northern Ireland. I suggest that studying local and family diasporas in the Irish context, with a focus on individual agency, may ultimately be more useful in understanding migration and its impact on processes of identity formation.View full textDownload full textKeywordsNorthern Ireland, Migration, Life-Narratives, Diaspora, HomeRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691830903520424