Globalization poses a certain threat to mankind as a whole and to separate ethnic groups.
In a global age, the loss of ethnic identity fades the differences between ethnic groups and therefore leads to processes of assimilation that demolish identities, such as their values, cultures, languages and traditions. Ethnic identity formation which has wide effects on minority communities, on the individuals and on society as a whole, is a contentious and challenging issue in politics and science. Crossroads between global mechanisms – economic, financial, and cultural – establish a complex patchwork of identities and belongings. This has important implications for and understanding the conditions of identity formation (Hoijer ¨ et al., 2004;
Ong, 1999, as cited in Lidskog, 2016).
Ethnic identity formation among immigrants is a recurrent theme within broader debates on issues such as migration, integration, and social cohesion.
Buryat people
The Buryat people are an ethnic group living in Southeastern Siberia, on the shores of Lake Baikal on the territory of Ethnic Buryatia (Figure 1). Being culturally and linguistically Mongol, they have been incorporated into the Russian Empire in the middle of the 17th century.
Roughly 500,000 people identify themselves as a Buryat, making the Buryats the largest indigenous group in Siberia. The Buryat people are descendants of several different ethnic groups including Mongolian and indigenous Siberian. The official languages of Buryats in Russia are Russian and Buryat. The main religions are Tibetan Buddhism and Shamanism.
Currently, the majority of Buryats live in three countries: Siberian Russia, northern Outer Mongolia and Chinese Inner Mongolia (Montgomery, 2005, as cited in Sartor, 2016).
Figure 1. Buryat people
The situation of Buryat society, their identity, culture and ethnic group as a social unit is very complicated nowadays (Nowicka, Wyszyński, 1996, as cited in Nowicka, 2015). The development of the Buryat nation faces multiple factors that act as barriers in the process of building a nation. One of these is the geographical distribution of about half a million people in the Buryat population. Areas where Buryat people are still living are broad and distinguished by their natural environment and their political (legal) status (although far less so than they had centuries ago, when they lived as exclusively nomadic people).
Figure 2. Map of Republic of Buryatia
1.2. Research background, Research Objectives, Problem statement
1.2.1 Research background
Being raised in a multicultural and multinational country, many Buryats in Russia identify themselves as Buryats. However, since I moved to Taiwan for studying, my identity is often challenged. I often questioned by locals about my appearance that doesn’t match with their perception of Russians. When I say where I come from I have to explain that I am not of Russian ethnicity, I am a Buryat, since the majority of people have the stereotype that Russians are all of Slavic appearance and are all blonde and have blue eyes. Then everyone asks me who the Buryats are. I then explain that it is a subgroup of the Mongols. But the question is to whom I belong? How do I identify myself? As a Russian, as a Buryat, or as a Mongol? There are some people who only speak Buryat and do not talk to Russians and there are some people who studied in Russian-speaking schools and do not have a strong connection to their Buryat
else? That is one of the reasons to conduct the research about ethnic identity of Buryats outside of the Russian Federation. The focus of this paper is on Buryat ethnic identity and the sense of belonging that they incorporate for self-identification.
1.2.2 Research Objectives
The purpose of research is to find out, through the impact of migration, live experience, and background, has Buryats been undergoing a transformation to become a group with a hybrid, diasporic identity. The focus is on personal feelings of belonging and how these feelings are articulated and experiences in personal narratives. It may be mentioned here that in this study ‘identity’ is referred to demonstrate the way groups and individuals define themselves and are defined and identified by others on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, culture, common history and language.
To evaluate key factors affecting the formation of Buryat diasporic identity
To find out how Buryat diaspora is different from the theoretical types specified by Cohen
To explore how the Buryat diaspora in Taiwan is different from other Buryat diasporas in other countries.
To find out distinctive features in Buryat diasporic identity.
To analyze acculturation strategies of Buryat diaspora in the hostland.
1.2.3 Problem statement
Cohen did not include late modern transnational mobility that takes significantly novel forms (such as transnational commuting or mental migration) that cannot be readily discarded as having no relevance to the study of diasporic phenomena (cf. Tölölian 1991; Cunningham
& Sinclair, 2000, as cited in Tsagarousianou, 2004).
1.3. Significance and expected output of the proposed research
There are few studies conducted on Buryat diasporas living in different countries other than Russia, Mongolia and China. Understanding of lifestyle of overseas Buryats would also
help to understand acculturation processes which are significant discourses in social science.
The societal relevance is to identify the problems and cultural differences within the community, and to help create awareness about their different identities. It is important to learn how minority ethnic group preserves their culture, language and traditions under the influence of the majority, in this case, Russian state. In addition, how minority ethnic group’s identity changes when they migrate to a different country. Study of Buryat migration and their identity challenges would help to understand general behavior of an ethnic group specifically Buryats in a majority society.
1.4. Thesis outline
This study is presented in six chapters. Chapter 1 presents an introduction to the topic of concern which outlines the study's context and focus. It summarizes the questions and goals of the research and explains the terms and concepts used in the study. It also introduces the area of study and the social problem that the research work required. The Chapter 2, the literature review, discusses in detail the concepts of identity, the components of ethnic identity, transnationalism, migration, acculturation and sense of belonging. It provides the theoretical framework correlated with people's identity and migration which drives research results presentation and evaluation. The Chapter 3 narrates the detailed account of history of Buryat ethnic group and their origin to examine the historical background of the Buryat ethnic group and their process of migration from time to time. The second part discusses the role of Russian state in the development of Buryat ethnic awareness. The Chapter 4, methodology, explains and justifies the choice of research strategy. The sampling techniques, tools for data collection are also discussed in this chapter. In view of the theoretical framework presented in the literature review, Chapter 5 discusses findings from the field work, interviews quotations from the respondents. Finally, Chapter Six presents an analysis of the key findings of the research in view of the objectives of the study, how the results of the research contribute to some relevant
issues posed in Chapter One's introduction, the limitations of the study, and the directions for future research related to this topic.