Three Bases of Identity in Global Context: Transnationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and National Identity among International Sojourners 公开

Watson, Lesley Anne (2014)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/zc77sq541?locale=zh
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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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