This book examines issues related to transnational movements of human beings and capital from the vantage point of contemporary perspectives, and literary and cultural tropes of such experiences. It discusses the nuanced differences between 'diaspora' and 'transnationalism', and traces the trajectory of theories of diaspora and transnationalism. It enumerates the history of old and new diasporas, explains how diaspora generates acculturation and cultural hybridity, and shows how it impacts ideologies of gender, sexuality, religion and state policies, and politics of immigration and citizenship. The volume also discusses how Diaspora Studies may reconfigure its priorities in the future.
Himadri Lahiri is former Professor, Department of English and Culture Studies, University of Burdwan, West Bengal. He is currently Professor of English at Netaji Subhas Open University, West Bengal.
Allen Hibbard is Professor and Director, Middle East Center, at Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee, USA.
Editor’s Preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Diaspora Old and New: History, Economy and the Home/land question 2. The Diasporic Subject: Generations, Cultural Hybridity and the Citizenship Question 3. The Diasporic Subject: Gender and Sexuality 4. Diaspora and Religion 5. Reading Diaspora: Monica Ali’s Brick Lane
Conclusion Glossary of Select Terms Texts for Further Reading