EBOOK
Pain, Pride, and Politics
Social Movement Activism and the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora in Canada
Amarnath AmarasingamSeries: Geographies of Justice and Social Transformation(0)
About
Pain, Pride, and Politics is an examination of diasporic politics based on a case study of Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada, with particular focus on activism between December 2008 and May 2009. Amarnath Amarasingam analyzes the reactions of diasporic Tamils in Canada at a time when the separatist Tamil movement was being crushed by the Sri Lankan armed forces and revises currently accepted analytical frameworks relating to diasporic communities. This book adds to our understanding of a particular diasporic group, while contributing to the theoretical literature in the area.
Throughout, Amarasingam argues that transnational diasporic mobilization is at times determined and driven as much by internal organizational and communal developments as by events in their countries of origin, a phenomenon that has received relatively little attention in the scholarly literature. His work provides an in-depth examination of the ways in which a separatist sociopolitical movement beginning in Sri Lanka is carried forward, altered, and adapted by the diaspora and the struggles that are involved in this process.
Throughout, Amarasingam argues that transnational diasporic mobilization is at times determined and driven as much by internal organizational and communal developments as by events in their countries of origin, a phenomenon that has received relatively little attention in the scholarly literature. His work provides an in-depth examination of the ways in which a separatist sociopolitical movement beginning in Sri Lanka is carried forward, altered, and adapted by the diaspora and the struggles that are involved in this process.
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Reviews
"Written from the perspective of a critical insider, this engaging book helps us to make sense of the fractious complexity of Tamil diaspora politics since the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. Its innovative angle on diaspora as a social movement points to ways of understanding how and why diasporas have become such important players on the global scene."
Nicholas Van Hear, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at the University of Oxford
"Coles, cofounder of Great American Cookies and former executive at Caribou Coffee, shares life lessons learned the hard way in this winning chronicle. . . . Though framed for the business world, his advice can easily be adapted for the personal realm. Uplifting and entertainingly written, Coles's work offers something for everyone who has ever faced and overcome a significant challenge."
Lorne L. Dawson, University of Waterloo
"The end of military conflict in Sri Lanka has ushered in new political and intellectual space to analyze war, violence, and displacement in the country. In this book, Amarasingam deftly excavates the meaning and politics of the Sri Lankan Tamildiaspora abroad, research that would not have been possible even a decade ago. An original and captivating read."
Jennifer Hyndman, Director, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University