Minority Problems - Abstracts and Full Texts

Minority Problems - Abstracts

Ethnic minority problems in the Niger Delta
Quaker-Dokubo, C. - African Journals Online
African Journal on Conflict Resolution - inasp.org.uk/ajol/journals/ajcr/vol1no2abs.html#2
Abstract: As a conceptual background typical types of minorities and typical sources of minority conflict are outlined. A historical overview is given of the problems Niger Delta minorities have been experiencing. Their grievances and demands are highlighted, and the responses of different Nigerian governments are discussed. As a conclusion a possible way forward is recommended, one which would take seriously the possibilities of decentralising and of creating a rewarding involvement for the impatient minorities before it is too late.

Changing Visions in Ethnic Relations
Leo Driedger

Abstract: Early studies focused on the relations between the dominant British and French charter groups, before Pierre Trudeau announced a policy of bilingualism and multiculturalism in 1971. A Royal Commission encouraged more research, where the focus of study turned from colonial to multicultural and multiethnic identity concerns, resulting in more open immigration policies. More immigrants of multiple races, religions, and cultures arrived, which required expansion of the largely white European heritage tent. By the eighties and nineties, demographic diversity, prejudice, discrimination, segregation accelerated, around problems of racism and the need for more equality and rights. While studies in the twentieth century were focused much on power and social class, research in the twenty-first century will need to explore cultures, diversity, conflict and cooperation.

Judging Not Only by Color: Ethnicity, Nativity, and Neighborhood Attainment
Michael J. White, Brown University
Sharon Sassier, Ohio State University
Objective. We examine hypotheses derived from theories of structural assimilation
and spatial mobility to study the residential attainment of white ethnics, blacks, Asians,
and Hispanics in the United States. We examine how immigrant status, ethnicity, and
individual and family characteristics predict socioeconomic neighborhood outcome.
Methods. We extend previous studies in several ways. First, we develop the concept and
measurement of residential attainment as a neighborhood or tract-based outcome, and we
examine this in a regression-based framework. Second, we expand ethnicity to twentyeight
distinct groups. Third, we measure directly the impact of intermarriage on
residential outcomes. Results. Our empirical findings show that immigrant status and
ethnicity, often implicated but not always kept conceptually distinct in discussions of
assimilation, exert different effects across ethnic groups. We find that intermarriage does
matter, as minority group householders with Anglo spouses gain access to higher-status
neighborhoods, net of their personal socioeconomic status. Finally and notably, ethnic
groups differ in the returns to personal socioeconomic traits in this process of
neighborhood attainment. Conclusions. Ethnic background dominates immigrant status
in predicting residential outcomes. Furthermore, the process of assimilation varies
noticeably within ethnic groups.
*Direct all correspondence to Michael J. White, Population Studies and Training Center, Box
1916, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 (e-mail: MichaeL_White@brown.edu).

Assimilation and ethnic boundaries: Israeli students' attitudes toward Soviet immigrants.(Statistical Data Included) - Author/s: Shmuel Shamai, Zinaida Ilatov - Theoretical Framework - Since 1990 there has been mass immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union, many of the immigrants school age. The present study examined the attitudes of Israeli students toward new Soviet immigrants, with the theoretical framework being the sociology of ethnicity and sociology of education

Is An English Accent All You Need to Succeed In America? Philadelphia University Sociology Professor Reveals The Privilege Connected With An English Accent.

PHILADELPHIA -- "Gee, I love your accent," is a typical American response when conversing with an English citizen. It seems that Americans are mesmerized by the differences in accents between America's English and England's English. But does this transcend to something more than fascination? According to Assistant Professor of Sociology at Philadelphia University, Katharine W. Jones, it does.

Structural Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations. - Author/s: Helen Rose Ebaugh, Janet Saltzman Chafetz - In this paper we show that immigrant religious institutions tend to assume many elements of a congregational structure and a community center model of functioning, characteristics usually not found in their countries of origin. Based on data from the Religion. Ethnicity, New Immigrants Research (RENIR) project in Houston, Texas, we found, however, that the two dimensions are distinct and largely unrelated to one another. While each serves as a vehicle to engender high levels of member commitment to the religious institution and serves to meet both religious and material needs of the immigrants, congregations vary in the degree to which they develop the two major elements of congregationalism.