Abstract
This paper investigates how the Karen refugee community in Smyrna, Tennessee—a suburban area in the Southern United States—employs the notion of homeland and collective memory to preserve group identity and cohesion across generations. Through qualitative analysis, the study explores how different generations of Karen refugees interpret and negotiate their shared pan-Karen identity, focusing on the symbolic homeland of Kawthoolei and their ongoing political resistance against the Burmese government. The study also examines the Karen community’s internal diversity—encompassing language, religion, and political perspectives—and its historical fragmentation, to better understand how these elements shape intra-community interactions and identity construction. This research contributes to the discourse on refugee communities by illustrating how these groups sustain ties to their homeland while adapting their identities within a new geographical and cultural environment.
Presenters
James ChaneyAssociate Professor, Political and Global Affairs, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Vectors of Society and Culture
KEYWORDS
Refugee Resettlement, Imagined Homeland, Identity, Cultural Reproduction, Diaspora
