Heritage Making and Migrant Subjects in the Deindustrialising Region of the Latrobe Valley

Community-initiated migrant heritage challenges state-sanctioned multiculturalism by adopting a diasporic perspective of settlement that is unfinished, non-static, and non-essentialist. It compels us to look both forwards and backwards in time and place, challenging the dominant narratives of multiculturalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element contends that community-initiated migrant heritage possesses the potential to challenge and broaden the state-sanctioned interpretations of multiculturalism in liberal nation-states. In this pursuit of alternative readings, community-initiated migrant heritage is positioned as a grassroots challenge to positivist state-multiculturalism. This can be achieved by adopting the migrant perspective, a diasporic perspective of settlement that is perpetually unfinished, non-static, and non-essentialist. As mobile subjects, whether once or multiple times over - a subject position attained through acts of mobility, sometimes sparked by violence or structural inequality, which can reverberate throughout subsequent generations - the migrant subject position compels us to gaze both forwards and backwards in time and place.

Community-initiated migrant heritage emerges as a powerful force in reshaping the narratives surrounding multiculturalism in liberal nation-states. By embracing the migrant perspective, a diasporic perspective of settlement that is perpetually unfinished, non-static, and non-essentialist, community-initiated migrant heritage challenges the dominant positivist state-multiculturalism narrative. This perspective recognizes the inherent complexities and fluidity of migrant experiences, highlighting the ongoing struggles and adaptations of individuals and communities as they navigate diverse cultural landscapes.

As mobile subjects, either once or multiple times over, the migrant subject position compels us to look both forwards and backwards in time and place. We are reminded of the historical roots and cultural traditions that shape our identities, while also being aware of the ongoing transformations and adaptations that occur as we traverse different geographical and social contexts. This duality allows for a more nuanced understanding of multiculturalism, recognizing its embeddedness in complex social, economic, and political processes and the diverse ways in which it is experienced and expressed.

Community-initiated migrant heritage serves as a grassroots challenge to positivist state-multiculturalism because it emphasizes the agency and participation of migrants in shaping their cultural identities and communities. It challenges the notion of multiculturalism as a top-down imposition of state policies and practices, instead highlighting the contributions and perspectives of migrant communities in the construction of multiculturalism. This approach recognizes the importance of grassroots initiatives, community-based organizations, and cultural practices in fostering a sense of belonging and integration among migrants and their descendants.

Moreover, community-initiated migrant heritage offers a space for alternative readings and interpretations of multiculturalism. It challenges the dominant narratives that portray multiculturalism as a harmonious and inclusive process, instead acknowledging the complexities and tensions that arise within diverse communities. By highlighting the experiences and perspectives of marginalized and underrepresented groups, community-initiated migrant heritage sheds light on the ways in which state-sanctioned multiculturalism can perpetuate inequality and discrimination.

In conclusion, community-initiated migrant heritage possesses the potential to challenge and expand state-sanctioned renderings of multiculturalism in liberal nation-states. By adopting the migrant perspective, a diasporic perspective of settlement that is perpetually unfinished, non-static, and non-essentialist, community-initiated migrant heritage offers a grassroots challenge to positivist state-multiculturalism. It emphasizes the agency and participation of migrants in shaping their cultural identities and communities, challenges the dominant narratives of multiculturalism, and offers a space for alternative readings and interpretations of multiculturalism. As we continue to navigate the complexities of a globalized world, it is essential to recognize and value the contributions of community-initiated migrant heritage in shaping our understanding of multiculturalism and its potential for positive change.

Weight: 200g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108826495
Edition number: New ed