Week 1 - Joshua Liu - ASA 114

When taking a course revolved around Asian Diasporas, it is essential to have a strong understanding of what the term "diaspora" actually means. Both of this week's readings share the theme of defining "diaspora," specifically, the role that displacement plays in defining the term. Anderson and Lee explain that "talking about diaspora without placing them in the broader context of displacement is to diminish the weight of exile, the notion of home, or conversely the act of recreating the new home place and thence the construction of new identities..." (p. 8). Valverde's working definition states that "Diaspora groups and individuals are displaced... have connections to and alienation from their homeland..." (p. 6). In other words, diasporas cannot be formed without displacement.

I believe that it's important to also investigate why displacement exists. Valverde provides an example in the context of Viet Nam; people left Viet Nam in the wake of the fall of Sai Gon (p. 7). This example, in which immigrants move to escape strife in their home country, can also be seen today.

This episode of Patriot Act does a good job of explaining the motivations behind immigrants coming from Central America and why they are searching for new home countries. Although connections to diasporas are never explicitly mentioned, one can see indications of physical and psychological displacement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PWpNIxk6Wc

Question: How do those with varying amounts of connections and ambivalence to their homeland interact to form a diaspora? For example, how do the interactions between somebody who shares strong connection to their homeland and somebody who has little connection to their homeland shape a diaspora?

Sources Cited:

Anderson, Wanni W., and Robert G. Lee. Displacements and Diasporas : Asians in the Americas. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers UP, 2005. Print.

Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline. Transnationalizing Viet Nam : Community, Culture, and Politics in the Diaspora. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 2012. Print. Asian American History and Culture.