Three Bases of Identity in Global Context: Transnationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and National Identity among International Sojourners Público
Watson, Lesley Anne (2014)
Abstract
This dissertation examines the relationship between transnationalism, cosmopolitanism, and national identity using longitudinal mixed-methods data from a sample of international development volunteers. I draw upon theoretical and empirical literatures from global and transnational sociology as well as social psychological work on identity processes. First, I examine whether or not this group of globally mobile individuals see themselves as transnational (i.e., connected to or involved with both their home and host countries) or cosmopolitan (i.e., global citizens who belong to the world as a whole rather than a single nation). Using quantitative data, I determine the individual and sojourning characteristics that give rise to these self-perceptions. Then, using qualitative data, I explore the meanings of transnationalism and cosmopolitanism. Results indicate that, rather than group identities, transnationalism manifests as a dimension of role-identities (i.e., a feature of ones romantic and work roles), and cosmopolitanism is a person-based identity (i.e., the result of an individual's history of personal experiences and unique values). Finally, I examine the effects of transnationalism and cosmopolitanism on national identity. I find that transnationalism and cosmopolitanism do not have a negative effect on national identity generally, but instead may catalyze changes in the meanings of national identity. I conclude with implications from my research on the measurement of transnationalism and cosmopolitanism, and a discussion of the contributions this research makes for both global and transnational sociology and social psychological work on identity.
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................ 1
WHY STUDY INTERNATIONAL SOJOURNERS?.................................................. 3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................................................ 4
ORGANIZATION OF THE DISSERTATION............................................................. 7
Theoretical Frameworks: Situating the Self in Global Context 10
TRANSNATIONALISM AND COSMOPOLITANISM AS ALTERNATIVES TO NATIONAL IDENTITY?....................................................................................................................................... 13
IMAGINING SUPRANATIONAL COMMUNITIES?............................................. 20
TRANSNATIONALISM AND COSMOPOLITANISM FROM AN IDENTITY PERSPECTIVE 24
Methodology.......................................................................................................... 36
DESIGN........................................................................................................................ 36
POPULATION AND SAMPLING.............................................................................. 37
SURVEY INSTRUMENTS......................................................................................... 43
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS................................................................................... 49
INTERVIEW INSTRUMENTS................................................................................... 49
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS...................................................................................... 53
CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA AND IRB APPROVAL........................................ 56
POSITIONALITY OF THE RESEARCHER.............................................................. 57
DESCRIPTIVE OVERVIEW...................................................................................... 58
Building Relationships with(in) a Culture:
Transnationalism as a Dimension of Role Identities.................
61
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS................................................................................... 62
DEFINING TRANSNATIONALISM......................................................................... 68
TRANSNATIONALISM FROM AFAR..................................................................... 70
TRANSNATIONAL ROLES AT HOME.................................................................... 77
ANTECEDENTS OF TRANSNATIONAL ROLES................................................... 85
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................ 88
Piling on Allegiances: International Travel as a
Foundation for Cosmopolitan Person
Identities......................... 91
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS................................................................................... 93
DEFINING COSMOPOLITANISM........................................................................... 97
THE COSMOPOLITAN SELF.................................................................................. 105
DETERMINING THE BASE OF COSMOPOLITAN IDENTITIES....................... 114
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................... 120
Just North American? The National Identities of International Sojourners......................................................................................................................................... 123
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TRANSNATIONALISM, COSMOPOLITANISM, AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS............................................................. 124
NATIONAL IDENTITY PROCESSES FROM AFAR............................................. 131
"JUST" NORTH AMERICAN................................................................................... 136
BLURRED LINES BETWEEN NATIONAL AND SUPRANATIONAL
IDENTITIES..............................................................................................................
144
A TRANSNATIONAL TAKE ON THE NATION................................................... 148
GLOBAL CANADA.................................................................................................. 152
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................... 155
Conclusion: Three Bases of Identity in Global Context...... 158
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS...................................................................................... 158
LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS....................................................... 162
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF
TRANSNATIONALISM
AND
COSMOPOLITANISM....................................................................................
164
CONTRIBUTIONS.................................................................................................... 168
TABLES......................................................................................................................... 178
Table 1: Individual Characteristics (N=175).................................................... 178
Table 2: Sojourn Characteristics (N=175)......................................................... 179
Table 3: Description of Qualitative Participants........................................... 180
Table 4: Correlation Matrix................................................................................ 183
Table 5: Growth Curve Model of the Effects of Individual and Sojourn Characteristics on (squared) Transnational Identity Change........................................................ 185
Table 6: Sensitivity Testing of Growth Curve Models of the Effects of Individual and Sojourn Characteristics on (squared) Transnational Identity Change.................... 186
Table 7: Growth Curve Model of the Effects of Individual and Sojourn Characteristics on (squared) Cosmopolitan Identity Change.......................................................... 187
Table 8: Sensitivity Testing of Growth Curve Models of the Effects of Individual and Sojourn Characteristics on (squared) Cosmopolitan Identity Change..................... 188
Table 9: Growth Curve Model of the Effects of Transnationalism and Cosmopolitanism on (logged) National Identity Strength................................................................................. 189
Table 10: Sensitivity Testing of Growth Curve Model of the Effects of Transnationalism and Cosmopolitanism on (logged) National Identity Strength........................... 190
FIGURES....................................................................................................................... 191
Figure 1: Research Design..................................................................................... 191
Figure 2: Change in Dependent Variables Over Time...................................... 191
APPENDICES............................................................................................................... 192
Appendix A: Selected Survey Measures.............................................................. 192
Appendix B: Complete Interview Guides............................................................. 196
REFERENCES
204
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