INNER CONFLICTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HYBRID IDENTITIES IN DIASPORA: A CASE STUDY OF LATVIA’S DIASPORA IN SWEDEN
INNER CONFLICTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HYBRID IDENTITIES IN DIASPORA: A CASE STUDY OF LATVIA’S DIASPORA IN SWEDEN

Summary/Abstract: Hybrid identity seems to be a nowadays phenomenon, even though it has always been present within diasporic communities in different historical times. It has been in a spotlight more recently because of the growing numbers of transnational and diasporic communities around the world, which leaves the impact on the formation of people’s identities. This research looks into the theoretical grounds of diasporic identities, recognizing hybrid and fluid aspects within and inner conflicts which are brought along while finding the stable ground for one’s identity. There is a broad empirical part, where Latvia’s diaspora in Sweden is studied, searching for answers about changes in their identities and belonging issues when living abroad. This study found that formation of the diasporic identity is an on-going process with different and individual stages of being and attitudes towards own identity, home and belonging. The complexity of individual adjustment to diasporic identity is observed, which often can be characterized as a hybrid in-betweenness – the state between two or more identities.

• Details
• Contents