Identity,

Diaspora,

& The Future

“Multiculturalism” May Not Mean What It Used To

- If It Ever Did

Andrew MattoxBainbridge Graduate Institute

Sealaska’s Case

SE Alaska Natives are in Diaspora

This is the track of a real family

6 in Alaska...

... Became 14 in the Lower 48 States

What We Found (part 2)Communities Identifiers Matter

Identity

The Individual

A Simple Model

In some elaborated formWe are embedded in

layers of culture & community

For a Clearly Defined World

It’s CleanIt’s AttractiveIt Works Well With NarrativesAnd Ownership Ideas

It May Not Exist

Global Humanity Increasingly Doesn’t Look Like This

It Looks Like This

...Constantly Shifting In Time

Diaspora

Going Global

Population Density

Credit: nationsonline.org

Population Growth

Net Immigration

Source: http://www.vagabondjourney.com/moving-abroad-expats-struggle-to-get-residency/

Cash Remittance Flow

Source: http://blog.eservglobal.com/tag/international-remittance/

Remittances vs. Investment & Aid

InvestmentBusiness & Policy

Foreign Aid

RemittancesJobs & Relationships

Source: http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2011/international-migration-recession-remittances.aspx

Communications & ComputersPhones as Indicators

4.5 Billion Mobile Phone Subscriptions

1.5 Billion Smartphone Subscriptions

...are Asymetrically Distributed

Internet Penetration

North America

80%

Africa

15%

+ New Social Organizing

Note the Holes

The Future

Can Go Many Different Ways

Structure Determines Behavior

Behavior Becomes Identity

The Structure is Rapidly Changing

in a Non-Linear Way

You are the Cultural Buyer

Thank You

To the Extent We Have Access to Enhanced Mobility & Interconnectness, it is...

EASIER for Diaspora Groups to Remain Cohesive

EASIER to Access Many Cultural Value Offerings, including Values, Biases & Fears

EASIER to Remit Money & Invest Abroad

EASIER to Consume “Alien” Media and to “reject” elements of home culture

EASIER to Crowd-Organize and paradoxically sometimes to Monitor

HARDER to Protect Privacy & Intellectual Assets

HARDER to Disappear

These Axioms Have Exceptions,

These New Patterns Are Monetized,

and Geographic Boundaries Mean Less.

Access is Growing.Thank you.