‘Sorry, we’re homogeneous.’ The baffling appeal of homogeneity-concepts among immigrant-supporters Examples from Japan and Germany

• Authors: Frauke Kempka
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

When an interviewee proclaims that she/he supported cultural and ethnic plurality, but then proceeds to argue that immigrants did not really fit into her/his homogeneous society, the effect is baffling. This article analyses these apparently paradoxical accounts in order to explore why concepts of homogeneity were being referred to. Thus case-studies of individuals engaged in civil society immigrant-support organizations are presented based on problem-centred interviews conducted in Beppu (Japan) and Halle/ Saale (Germany). Employing methods of qualitative data content analysis this article argues that concepts of homogeneity may appeal to plurality-supporters in order to protect ambitious self-images.

Keywords

EN

Immigrant; Homogeneity-concepts; Comparative research; Individual commitments

• Publisher: Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
• Journal: Acta Asiatica Varsoviensia
• Year: 2013
• Issue: 26
• Pages: 147-159

Contributors

author

Frauke Kempka

• Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg