Contextual Identity among Liberian Refugees in Ghana: Identity Salience in a Protracted Refugee Situation. Issue 4 (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Byrne, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Politics & policy. Volume 44:Issue 4(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 751
• Page End: 782
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Refugees -- Contextual Identity -- Social Construction of Identity -- National Identity -- Ethnic Identity -- Liberia -- Ghana -- Sub‐Saharan Africa -- Protracted Refugees -- Asylum Seekers -- Exile -- Identity Discontinuity -- Identity Salience -- Identity and Borders -- Social Identity Theory -- Grounded Theory Approach -- Identity and Difference -- Liberian Civil Wars -- Intergroup Conflict -- Intergroup Relations; Political science -- Periodicals; World politics -- 21st century -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1111/polp.12169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1555-5623

Abstract

Abstract : The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a protracted refugee situation on identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana. A strong national identity was observed among Liberians within the context of Buduburam Refugee Camp, despite previous ethnic divisions in their home country during the two Liberian civil wars. According to social identity theory, individuals may hold several identities at one time, but the expression of these identities are dependent on context. Using a grounded theory approach, I find three theoretical explanations for this phenomenon. Three identity primes heightened the salience of being Liberian. First, identity discontinuity resulting from trauma focused awareness on shared past experiences, creating a shared generational identity among residents at Buduburam. Second, a shared refugee status, and third, shared perceptions of difference between the Liberians and Ghanaians, played key roles in activating and sustaining a collective national identity among Liberian refugees in Ghana. Related Articles: Byrne, Jennifer, andGregory C. Dixon .2013 . "Reevaluating American Attitudes toward Immigrants in the Twenty‐First Century: The Role of a Multicreedal National Identity ."Politics & Policy 42 (1 ):83 ‐116 .http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12002/abstract Catalinac, Amy L. 2007 . "Identity Theory and Foreign Policy: Explaining Japan's Responses to the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 U.S. War in Iraq ."Politics & Policy 35 (1 ):58 ‐100 .http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00049.x/abstract Simon-Kumar, Rachel, and Catherine Kingfisher .2011 . "Beyond Transformation and Regulation: Productive Tensions and the Analytics of Inclusion ."Politics & Policy 39 (2 ):271 ‐294 .http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00291.x/abstract Related Media: Buduburam . n.d. "Home for Homeless People."http://buduburam.com/ CCTV Africa . 2014. "Liberian Refugees in Ghana."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85CJe5JWAw