On the Need to Broaden the Concept of Ethnic Identity by van de Vijver, Blommaert, & Stogianni (2015)

van de Vijver, F. J. R., Blommaert, J., Gkoumasi, G., & Stogianni, M. (2015). On the need to broaden the concept of ethnic identity. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 46, 36-46. doi:1016/j.ijintrel.2015.03.021

            The researchers identified several constraints in the existing concepts on studying ethnic identity (pp. 36-37) particularly in a highly dynamic and multi-allegiant setting. They then proposed (p. 38) and constructed a hybrid of quantitative and qualitative survey instrument. This is an attempt to accommodate a particular “superdiverse” case, i.e., communities with observable social restratification, cohesion and conviviality, and psychology (pp. 38-40), in a given locality, Oud-Berchem as in this research.

            It is worth noting that the construction of the instrument in this particular study is novel (pp. 40-42). In its context, the instrument showed correlations across Ethnic, Belgian, Familial, Religious, and Cosmopolitan identities (p. 43). It implies that all these identities are correlated in a positive and significant fashion. Evidently, as the researchers argued, this may not be revealed in the traditional structuralist and dichotomy-based approaches (p. 45). The results provide basis, which shows that global experiences of identity and belongingness are present in Oud-Bercham (p. 44). Its presence must be accounted for to truly reveal the allegiances individual actors possess in a multilayered community. This, along with other findings, invites attention to future research to better understand communal cohesion in a community with “superdiversity” (p. 45).

            The approach this study took is its highlight and they did expand the concept of ethnic identity in context. Personally, I would agree that mixed methodology (p. 45), rather than a dichotomy, is a practical way to uncover multiple identities of individuals in a community that has its own historicity of immigration and acculturation. The thought of it would definitely excite young researchers. However, I would not encourage others to readily re-conduct the study without looking for opportunities to improve the questionnaire.