Dual Citizenship for the Second Generation in Montreal and Its Implications for Identity, Plurality and Mobility
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I’m From Here and There: Dual Citizenship for the Second Generation in Montreal and its Implications for Identity, Plurality and Mobility Mona Magalhaes A Thesis in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Social and Cultural Anthropology) at Concordia University Montreal, Quebec, Canada December 2013 © Mona Magalhaes, 2013 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Mona Magalhaes Entitled: I’m From Here and There: Dual Citizenship for the Second Generation in Montreal and its Implications for Identity, Plurality and Mobility and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Social and Cultural Anthropology) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the Final Examining Committee: Amy Swiffen Chair Christine Jourdan Examiner Sally Cole Examiner Vered Amit Supervisor Approved by _________________________________________ Chair of Department or Graduate Program Director _________________________________________ Dean of Faculty Date December 13, 2013 Abstract I’m From Here and There: Dual Citizenship for the Second Generation in Montreal and its Implications for Identity, Plurality and Mobility Mona Magalhaes The ability to acquire and retain dual citizenship has become increasingly accepted among states worldwide over the last several decades, and this has resulted in a significant expansion of the number of people who acquire dual or multiple citizenships at birth. While dual citizenship is regarded as a status that at once enables migrant integration into the host state and the maintenance of cultural and familial ties with the country of origin, the extent to which this is relevant to subsequent generations remains unknown. It is also not known to what extent dual citizenship status inspires transnational mobility for the second generation. Applying citizenship and transnational theoretical and conceptual approaches, in this thesis I examine what dual citizenship can mean to second generation Canadians who also hold the European citizenships of their parents, primarily focusing on southern and former Soviet bloc states that are members of the European Union. I investigate life stories and family migration histories and describe the ways in which individualized notions of national and cultural identity are formed through the relationships fostered within local and transnational familial and social networks. In addition, this form of dual citizenship implies that the second generation have access and membership to not only their family’s country of origin, but also to other states within the European Union. Within this context, I demonstrate how contemporary global capitalism adds an instrumental dimension to dual citizenship as the second generation consider key life decisions such as residence, education, and career trajectories, and whether to embark on mobility to achieve these goals. iii Acknowledgements I owe a debt of gratitude to the individuals who agreed to participate in this study. Thank you to everyone for entrusting me with your life stories, reflections, hopes, and aspirations. It was a privilege for me to spend time with you, and I hope that you will find that my interpretations of your life experiences have done you justice. I am also deeply grateful to the Minotti family for demonstrating such enthusiasm for my project and for putting me in contact with other individuals willing to participate in this study. This study would not have been possible without the guiding hand of Dr. Vered Amit, who introduced me to the topic of dual citizenship and was confident in my abilities to contribute to her large scale study entitled Coming of Age as Dual Nationals: An Anthropological Study of Belonging and Mobility among Young Canadians. Thank you, Vered, for your advice, encouragement, and for challenging me to delve deeply into the analysis of my data. I would like to thank my committee members, Drs. Christine Jourdan and Sally Cole, who also provided much encouragement, guidance and enthusiasm for my work during my undergraduate and graduate studies. My experience at Concordia University would not have been as enjoyable and fulfilling without your presence. Thank you so much! This study was made possible by the generous financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture, and Concordia University (Concordia Merit Scholarship). I am deeply grateful for your patronage. I would like to thank my family and friends for encouraging me throughout this process. Thank you, René and Maïa, for putting up with my long hours on the computer and never doubting for a second that I could accomplish this goal. Merci, maman and Dad, for your loving support. Finally, thank you to Helene for being my biggest fan. iv Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research Questions ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................... 4 1.2.1 Dimensions of Citizenship within Migration .................................................................. 4 1.2.2 Complexities within the Category of Dual Citizenship ................................................ 13 1.2.3 Theoretical Approaches and Insights ............................................................................ 18 1.2.4 Canadian/European Dual Citizenship – Historical and Political Contexts .................. 26 1.3 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 32 1.3.1 Interlocutors .................................................................................................................. 32 1.3.2 Constructing the Transnational Field Site - Recruitment .............................................. 37 1.3.3 Research Methods ......................................................................................................... 39 1.4 Thesis Outline ...................................................................................................................... 42 Chapter 2 – Affiliation, Access & Aegis -The Meaning and Utility of Dual Citizenship ...... 45 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 45 2.2 The Nature of Affiliation – Family Dynamics, Social Environments, Physical Locales ..... 46 2.2.1 My father is (in) Portugal .............................................................................................. 46 2.2.2 “My uncle wants to take our land” ................................................................................ 55 2.2.3 “My family don’t want me to live in Greece”............................................................... 61 2.3 Access- Exploring Practicality ............................................................................................. 66 2.3.1 The Passport .................................................................................................................. 67 2.3.2 The Right to Pass .......................................................................................................... 69 2.4 Aegis – Security in an Insecure World ................................................................................ 72 2.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 3 – Place, Context, and Language ............................................................................... 79 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 79 3.2 The Practice of Social and Cultural Knowledge .................................................................. 81 3.2.1 Diverse Negotiations within a Culturally Diverse Space .............................................. 82 3.2.2 Language Politics and the Shaping of Multilingualism ................................................ 88 3.2.3 Language Perceptions, Citizenship Perspectives .......................................................... 90 3.2.4 Language and the Culturally Diverse Space - Adaptability ........................................ 105 3.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 109 Chapter 4 – Mobility within Inherited Dual Citizenship ....................................................... 112 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 112 4.2 Mobility, Life Courses & Dual Citizenship ....................................................................... 115 4.2.1 Caitlin – London Calling: The possibilities of new places ......................................... 115 4.2.2 Sofia – Personal Crossroads ........................................................................................ 119 4.2.3 Talia – The Emotion in Mobility ...............................................................................