Inter-ethnic Relations in Padang of West Sumatra Navigating Between Assimilation and Exclusivity

This article contributes to the discussion on how inter-ethnic relations challenge cultural boundaries, in this case Minangkabau matrilineal-Islamic culture in Padang of West Sumatra, Indonesia. This paper will focus on how Minangkabau people establish relationship with other ethnic groups in Padang, a multi-ethnic city. The paper argues that matrilineal principles (descent and inheritance through the maternal line) and Islam are the defining aspects to be considered by Minangkabau people in maintaining relationship with other ethnic groups. Moreover, there is some interplay between the need to protect Minangkabau Islamic-matrilineal adat in maintaining inter-ethnic relations by Minangkabau people and their assimilation and exclusivity interests

[Review of] E. Ellis Cashmore. ed. Dictionary of Race and Ethnic Relations. 2nd ed.

A recurrent theme in the sociological study of racial and ethnic relations is the discipline\u27s inability to provide a clear and focused research agenda. Scholars in the field are troubled by their inability to agree as to the nature and scope of the discipline, and hence, the lack of an all-encompassing definition for the study of racial and ethnic relations. For example, a continual semantic debate exists over the appropriate usage and application of such concepts as race versus racial in sociological discourse. The Dictionary of Race and Ethnic Relations has been developed with this concern in mind

FACTORS PROMOTING CO-OPERATIVE BEHAVIOUR AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA

This article investigated ethnicity and inter ethnic relations in Nigeria and also highlighted the factors that promote co-operative behaviour among ethnic groups. Such factors are to be encouraged to promote better understanding so that unity can be fostered among the different groups. Counselling has a significant role to play in ethnic relations. Cross cultural counselling may look into ways the differe~t cultures within the country could be studied and understood as most of the mistrust existing between groups may be due to lack of information about the different groups

Race relations in prison: managing performance and developing engagement

This paper explores the paradox that whilst the quantitative measures of prison performance in relation to ‘race relations’ indicate substantial improvements in service delivery, more qualitative measures of the quality of prison life appear to indicate little substantive improvement in race relations. Using the underrepresentation of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) prisoners in accredited offending behaviour related prison programmes as a case study to explore understandings of race relations, the paper reflects on whether the under representation indicates the operation of racial discrimination by prison staff or a refusal to participate by prisoners. It also explores other explanations for this phenomenon relating to the enactment of positive ethnic identities and resistance to programmes that ignore such identities. The paper concludes by considering the challenge of developing an active prison culture that validates all ethnic identities in culturally appropriate ways

Coping With Racism: Moderators of the Discrimination-Adjustment Link Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents

What strategies help ethnic minority adolescents to cope with racism? The present study addressed this question by testing the role of ethnic identity, social support, and anger expression and suppression as moderators of the discrimination-adjustment link among 269 Mexican-origin adolescents (Mage = 14.1 years), 12-17 years old from the Midwestern U.S. Results from multilevel moderation analyses indicated that ethnic identity, social support, and anger suppression, respectively, significantly attenuated the relations between discrimination and adjustment problems, whereas outward anger expression exacerbated these relations. Moderation effects differed according to the level of analysis. By identifying effective coping strategies in the discrimination-adjustment link at specific levels of analysis, the present findings can guide future intervention efforts for Latino youth

[Review of] Raymond L. Hall (Ed.). Ethnic Autonomy -- Comparative Dynamics: The Americas, Europe and the Developing World

Hall has done us a service in putting together this wide-ranging collection of essays on ethnic separatist movements. The volume is particularly timely because of the twentieth century paradoxes of the drive for global unity and nationalism, and nationalism and a blossoming of ethnic separatist movements. (The book is not unique. See, 6.9. Chester L. Hunt and Lewis Walker, Ethnic Dynamics: Patterns of Intergroup Relations in Various Societies, Learning Publications, Inc., 1979.

The Changing Faces of America’s Children and Youth

Recent U.S. Census Bureau projections indicate that by the middle of this century, non-Hispanic whites will cease to be a majority of the American population. In this article we document how for America’s youngest residents, the future is already here. America’s rapidly changing racial and ethnic composition has important implications for intergroup relations, ethnic identities, and electoral politics

'They Eat Potatoes, I Eat Rice': Symbolic Boundary Making and Space in Neighbour Relations

This article examines 'neighbouring' as the setting in which cross-category relations develop and symbolic boundaries are constructed. The study is based on thirty in-depth interviews with residents living in a multi-ethnic and a mono-ethnic neighbourhood in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The findings challenge the hoped-for outcomes of social mixing in neighbourhoods, as well as the view that boundary making is something inherent to multi-ethnic neighbourhoods only. Neighbour relations are often setting-specific (relations are interchangeable, scripted and bounded, and passively maintained), which is relevant for understanding the spatiality of neighbouring and the limited exchange of personal information between neighbours. Because neighbouring involves the balancing of personal privacy and close spatial proximity, the exchange of personal information is limited, while spatial proximity ensures easy access to observable (through seeing, hearing and smelling) categorical markers that signify class, ethnicity, lifestyle, etc. In this way, neighbour interaction reconstructs symbolic boundaries rather than breaking them down.Boundary Making, Intergroup Contact, Multi-Ethnic Neighbourhoods, Neighbouring, Setting, Space, Symbolic Boundaries

The social context of school playground games: Sex and ethnic differences, and changes over time after entry to junior school

This short term longitudinal study examined activities at recess and peer relations. Interest was in changes over the school year, and the sex and ethnic mix of groups. Data came from systematic observations of 129 pupils (61 boys and 68 girls) aged 7-8 years. Results showed that peer interaction dominated recess. Ball games increased over the year, and chasing games decreased. Aggression was most common during vigorous play and conversation, but not ball games. Cleavage in boys' and girls' play and activity was common but not inevitable. Mixed sex play was not supported by particular game types. Boys’ game networks were larger than those of girls but there were no sex differences in active networks. There was little ethnic group segregation on playgrounds, and games became more integrated with time. Results indicate that playground activities can have a positive role in social relations between different ethnic groups