National Identity: Integrity and Diversity in Contemporary Europe. The Construal of National Identities within the Luxembourg Context.
English
Murdock, Elke[University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) >]
Institute of Social Investigations and Institute of Philosophy and Sociology
2
7
70-85
Yes
International
1691-5844
Riga
Latvia
[en] national identity construal ; biculturalism ; multinational environment
[en] We live in an increasingly mobile world. Luxembourg with a foreign population of 43% (over 65% in the capital) and three officially recognized languages, spoken throughout the country, can be viewed as a “natural laboratory.” Luxembourg has experienced a vicisstudinous history. Within a short period of time, Luxembourg has changed from being a country of emigration of becoming a target country for immigration. Initially, the iron and steel works attracted foreign populations. Today, Luxembourg is a major financial centre and host to many European institutions. The size of the country, population mix and closeness of the borders also imply that second culture exposure cannot be avoided. How is national identity construed within this context? In this paper the conceptual framework for a planned empirical study will be presented: Three different resident groups which are differentiated by their length of stay in Luxembourg (native Luxembourgers, Luxembourgers with migration background and Expatriates) will be analysed regarding their construal of national identity along the primordialist – situationalist spectrum. Furthermore, biculturalism will be explored, the hypothesis being that the position on the primordialist – situationalist spectrum will influence the bicultural orientation and the perception of second culture exposure as enrichment or threat. Identity Structure Analysis is used as a theoretical framework.
Researchers ; Professionals ; Students ; General public
[University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) >]
