Community Politics and Ethnicity Among Lebanese in Nova Scotia
Author(s)
Jabbra, Nancy W.
Abstract
Politics play a major part in creating and defining ethnic groups and boundaries. This is especially true when political actors use ethnicity and other parochial identities to gain and keep power. Politics within the ethnic community are important for other reasons as well. The community is a political arena, although a small one, and one that for many immigrants is more important than the larger arena. Minority ethnic groups may not be large enough to form voting blocs. Moreover, a substantial number of immigrants have not been in the country long enough to become citizens. Those who have may still lack the linguistic skills, the cultural knowledge, and the social ties necessary to participate in the politics of the larger society. Additionally, they may perceive that they are not yet fully accepted by charter group Canadians. In short, their participation in ethnic community politics indicates a low level of assimilation and acculturation.
