Liudmila Kirpitchenko

Practices of active citizenship among migrant youth: beyond conventionalities

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the empirical manifestations of the notion of active citizenship in the context of the experiences of migrant youth. It focuses on the practices of active citizenship through involvement in social networks and creative civic engagement. In doing so, the article examines the complex and multi-faceted nature of social networking among migrant youth and the extent to which their approach to engagement is dependent on the specificities of the local environment, the type of social issues involved, and the cultural norms of ones own cultural heritage. Key empirical insights are derived from quantitative and qualitative research conducted among migrant youth of African, Arabic-speaking and Pacific Island backgrounds in Australia. These empirical insights are used to examine the changing perceptions of active citizenship among migrant youth, and the possibilities offered through non-traditional networks to engender civic engagement and social participation.

The Vietnamese diaspora in Australia: identity and transnational behaviour

This paper provides a critical overview of the Vietnamese diaspora in Australia, analyses its origins, socio-demographic characteristics and generational tides. It analyses the ways in which the nature of Vietnamese diaspora in Australia has impacted on their connections with the homeland. The paper presents the empirical findings of a research project conducted in three Australian cities. This paper assesses the nature of the Vietnamese diaspora in Australia critically applying Cohen’s [(2008). Global Diasporas. London: Taylor & Francis] typology of a refugee diaspora and analyses the extent of ties to the homeland in several domains of the diaspora-homeland relations. It analyses the impact of generally being perceived as a victim or refugee diaspora on ties with homeland. The discussion highlights key trends and characteristics in relation to diaspora-homeland ties, including the impact of being perceived as a victim/refugee diaspora on ties with homeland and the determinants on ties to the homeland, including age and place of birth.

Comparing experiences of academic mobility and migration

AbstractAcademic mobility and accompanying migration have become increasingly evident as manifestations of globalization and internationalization of education worldwide. This paper aims to provide some insights into intercultural communication in academia by comparing experiences of students and academics who partake in academic mobility or/and academic migration. It seeks to reflect on how differences in cultural patterns impact on the integrational experiences and outcomes of academic learning and everyday interactions. Two contrasting cultural patterns of collectivism and individualism are explored, as they are displayed in intercultural interactions among migrants and hosting societies. To expose this contrast effectively, this paper focuses on the Russian-speaking mobile academics and compares their intercultural experiences in academia of two countries—Italy and Australia. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-two academic migrants or/and mobile academics on their experiences, views and perceptions of intercultural integration in two diverse settings. This paper explores diverse aspects of intercultural dialogue and compares perceptions of intercultural integration and feelings of wellbeing. It analyses evolving empirical manifestations of cosmopolitanism in everyday intercultural interactions and argues that postmodern cosmopolitan milieu facilitates intercultural integration and enables knowledge transfer and creation of shared cultural meanings.