Regulating Immigrant Identities: the Role of Government and Institutions in the Identity Construction of Refugees and Other Migrants

Ibolya Losoncz*, Jay Marlowe

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This interdisciplinary paper explores the role of governments in the identity formation of people of resettled refugees. Using ethnographic data collected from 32 South Sudanese Australians and 9 professionals who work with this community, the paper outlines how participants face a range of systemic barriers and threats from government institutions relating to the cultivation of self-identity. We demonstrate how institutions poorly respond to the three typologies of self: moral, democratic, and status-seeking, and forward alternative institutional responses and possibilities. We conclude by arguing that rather than delivering a cohesive society, the regulation of cultural values and moral identities threatens the development of positive self-identities among resettled refugees and their children.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)117-132
    Number of pages16
    JournalJournal of International Migration and Integration
    Volume21
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2020

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