عنوان

Community, identity and social group formations :

Number

TLets431004

Title Proper

Community, identity and social group formations :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Rayner, Nick

Title Proper by Another Author

a comparartive ethnograhic investigation and theoretical analysis of first generation migration into an English town

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Nottingham Trent University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2006

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Text preceding or following the note

2006

Text of Note

This research outlines the theoretical positions of Pierre Bourdieu's structuralist constructivism and Fredrik Barth's generative transactional ethnic process in relation to social practices, identity constructions and community formations of first generation migrant Muslims and Latina/Hispanic groups. It is proposed that although each theory appears to oppose the other, they can be synthesised to form a reflexive, mutually supportive and flexible discursive theoretical framework that can be effectively applied to the process of migration and its resultant social formations. The research theoretically considers the social delineation of such groups, the internal processes of group formation, and the significance of wider points of identity and belonging within group construction. It is found that the experiential process of migration is only made meaningful in relation to the current social world that both groups exist within and the subjective meanings of individuals collected within each group. Such subjective elements of knowledge often focus upon points of origin and current manifestations of identity. The research is based upon 12 months of residential fieldwork using methods of participant observation and various forms of interviewing.

Cultural Studies

Rayner, Nick

Southampton Solent University

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y