In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

CHINESE IDENTITIE S I N SOUTHEAS T ASIA : ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE S Charles Hirschma n Wang Gungwu , a s always , has presente d a breathtaking panoram a o f new concepts, insights , empirica l observations , an d hypothese s fo r furthe r elaboration an d testing . I n m y brie f comment , I attemp t t o examin e critically hi s concept s an d thei r applicatio n t o the stud y o f the Chines e i n Southeast Asia. Then I sketch som e alternative theoretica l perspectives. My primary conclusion is that more attention to theory and to the study of plural societies i n othe r context s woul d offe r promisin g direction s for th e stud y of Southeast Asia n societie s an d th e positio n o f Chinese communitie s i n th e region. WANG GUNGW U AN D HI S CONCEPT S O F CHINES E IDENTITIE S The concepts of Chinese identity and multiple identities are at the hear t of Wang's analysi s o f th e Chines e i n Southeas t Asia . Awarenes s o f bein g Chinese o r a sens e o f 'Chineseness' represents th e cor e element, i n Wang' s analysis, o f Chines e ethnicity . Whil e thi s i s essentiall y a subjectivis t approach (ho w a peopl e defin e themselve s an d ar e see n b y others) , Wan g does acknowledg e clos e linkage s betwee n objectiv e condition s an d subjective identities . Hi s formulatio n explicitl y posit s multipl e identities : groups no t onl y shar e severa l type s o f ethnic identities , bu t thes e coexis t (overlap, reinforce, compete ) wit h othe r socia l an d economi c identities. Hi s essay provide s a taxonom y o f th e majo r identitie s tha t hav e foun d a following amon g Southeas t Asia n Chinese . Amon g others , thes e includ e political an d cultura l dimension s o f ethnicity . A revie w an d partia l reorganization o f his concept s wil l illustrat e th e broa d swee p o f Wang' s classification o f Chines e identities . Being a Chines e in Southeas t Asia rests not only on an historical sens e of a share d background , bu t o n contemporar y conditions , especiall y th e interaction o f Chines e minoritie s wit h indigenou s population s an d national governments . Give n change s i n thes e externa l conditions , ther e have bee n change s i n th e rang e an d conten t o f Chines e identitie s i n Southeast Asia . Wan g emphasize s thi s tempora l dimensio n wit h hi s contrast betwee n 'older ' an d 'modern ' Chines e identities . Th e analytica l problem i s tha t thes e overla p eac h other , no t onl y i n th e perception s 24฀ CHARLES HIRSCHMA N (stereotypes) of non-Chinese, but also in the orientation s o f many Southeas t Asian Chinese . Fo r example , Wang notes tha t formerl y man y Chines e ha d a stron g identificatio n wit h nationalis m i n Chin a (Chinese nationalist identity), bu t with the passage of time and the 'brutal policies of the Cultura l Revolution' i n China , the y hav e graduall y develope d a national (local) identity. Fo r man y individuals , bot h identitie s ma y b e present , althoug h the former ma y be a fairly abstrac t an d laten t identit y tha t has little o r no effect o n dail y lif e o r behaviour . Th e othe r dimensio n o f political identit y in Wang's typolog y is communal identity, whic h see s its fullest expressio n in Malaysia n politics . Give n thei r substantia l shar e o f th e Malaysia n population, Chines e se e themselves a s a political community wit h right s t o protect. I n othe r countries , communa l identit y i s limite d t o Chines e...

Share