We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Social Capital and Identity Politics among Asian Buddhists in Toronto.
- Authors
McLellan, Janet; White, Marybeth
- Abstract
Asian Buddhist identities in Toronto are based on a proliferation of interconnected criteria ranging from shared language, culture, ethnicity, and notions of homeland to distinct doctrinal interpretations and practices. Each identity referent is given a wide variety of meanings and interpretations according to the social context, structures of power and inequality, and relevance of or ability to, articulate collective self-definition and action. The authors of this article contend that the degree to which Asian Buddhists in Toronto can effectively use the politics of representation depends on the degree of social capital in their communities and/or with individuals associated with, or acting on behalf of an identifiable group. A specific example of identity politics is examined in the case of the Lao refugees as they faced opposition to their establishing a temple. Local land-use disputes or neighbourhood tensions over places of worship reveal the importance of social capital for effective identity representation to counter negative stereotypes toward religious and racial minorities. The Lao example illustrates how ideal notions of pluralism and multiculturalism advocated by Canadian social policy are not necessarily equated in practice with diversity and acceptance of the other.
- Subjects
TORONTO (Ont.); ONTARIO; LAOS; CANADA; SOCIAL capital; IDENTITY politics; BUDDHISTS; MULTICULTURALISM; ASIANS
- Publication
Journal of International Migration & Integration, 2005, Vol 6, Issue 2, p235
- ISSN
1488-3473
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12134-005-1012-7