The next issue of "Social Science Information" will be devoted to "Diasporas on the Web". The journal will publish a collection of articles presenting the main results of the "e-Diasporas Atlas" research project, developed within the ICT Migrations program (Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme and Telecom ParisTech, Paris).
On this occasion, an event will be held at the British Academy in London, involving contributors as well as invited speakers, from 6 to 8 p.m on Thursday 13th December 2012. A cocktail reception will follow at 8 p.m. Researchers working on migrations and/or web studies and digital humanities will be welcome.
An overview of the e-Diasporas Atlas project will be given by its director, Dana Diminescu, and her research team. The Atlas is the first of its kind, introducing digital methods into diaspora and migration studies. Over 80 people worldwide were involved, including computer scientists and social science researchers from disciplines such as sociology, geography, anthropology, history. Some 8,000 websites were mapped, analysed and archived. Three articles included in this special issue of *Social Science Information* will be presented by their authors, on topics ranging from cyber-Hindutva to transnational Tamil networks and networks of French colonial repatriates.
A discussion will then be chaired by Myria Georgiou (Dept. of Media and Communications, LSE). We are happy to announce the participation of Robin Cohen (author of Global Diasporas and former Director of the International Migration Institute, University of Oxford) and Noortje Marres (Senior lecturer in Sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London), who will provide their invaluable expertise on these topics.
Some of the main questions raised by the research will be addressed. What kinds of diasporas are formed by connected migrants? Do the online networks woven by migrants scattered throughout the world, and the traces they leave on the Web, reveal traditional or novel functions of diasporas? Do these 'e-diasporas' merely mirror physical diasporas, are they an extension to these diasporas, or do they generate new forms of communities? From a more general perspective, can they be considered as an echo-chamber of globalization - of a society which is itself a diaspora in the making? And how do digital methods help us to adopt a more reflexive stance on this phenomenon?
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Diasporas on the Web
Date: Thursday 13th
December
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Place: British Academy, Reading Room, 10
Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH
The "e-Diasporas Atlas", http://www.e-diasporas.fr
includes (among others) the following working papers:
- Houda Asal, Community sector dynamics and the Lebanese diaspora: internal fragmentation and transnationalism on the web.
- Kristina Balalovska, Discovering Macedonian diaspora. A Web cartography of actors, interactions and influences.
- Anat Ben-David, The Palestinian Diaspora on The Web: Between De-Territorialization and Re-Territorialization.
- Tristan Bruslé, Nepalese diasporic websites, signs and conditions of a diaspora in the making?
- Anouck Carsignol, South Asianism : Militantisme politique et identitaire en ligne.
- Sylvie Gangloff, Les migrants originaires de Turquie : Des communautés politiquement et religieusement dispersées.
- Teresa Graziano, The Tunisian diaspora: Between digital riots and Web activism.
- David Knaute, Discovering the Zoroastrian e-diaspora.
- Priya Kumar, Transnational Tamil Networks: Mapping Engagement Opportunities on the Web.
- Priya Kumar, Sikh Narratives: An Analysis of Virtual Diaspora Networks.
- Priya Kumar, Palestinian Virtual Networks: Mapping Contemporary Linkages.
- Eric Leclerc, Cyberspace of the Indian diaspora.
- Emmanuel Ma Mung Kuang, Enquête exploratoire sur le web des Chinois doutremer. Morphologie du web et production de la diaspora ?
- Sabrina Marchandise, Investir le web social des étudiants marocains en mobilité internationale. Une méthode imposée par le terrain.
- Francesco Mazzucchelli, What remains of Yugoslavia? From the geopolitical space of Yugoslavia to the virtual space of the Web Yugosphere.
- Oksana Morgunova, National Living On-Line? Some aspects of the Russophone e-diaspora map.
- Mayhoua Moua, Figures médiatisées dune population en situation de dispersion : Les Hmong au travers du Web.
- Marie Percot & Philippe Venier, Les migrant indiens du Kérala à travers le Web.
- Dilnur Reyhan, Uyghur diaspora and Internet.
- Marta Severo & Eleonora Zuolo, Egyptian e-diaspora: migrant websites without a network?
- Ingrid Therwath, Cyber-Hindutva: Hindu Nationalism, the diaspora and the web.
- Aurélie Varrel, Explorer le web immobilier des migrants indiens.
