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Objective
This article investigates what kin identification means from a bottom-up perspective in two kin majority cases: Moldova and Crimea.
Social Science Quarterly
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What Does it Mean to Be a Kin Majority? Analyzing Romanian Identity in Moldova and Russian Identity in Crimea from Below†
- †
The author is grateful to the ESRC for the funding to complete the doctoral research and fieldwork. She is also grateful for the comments of her supervisor, Denisa Kostovicova, and to Gerard Toal, Jon Fox, the participants of the Association for the Study of Nationalities 2014 World Convention, and the Graduate Network Conference at Sciences Po in 2014 for their helpful comments on previous drafts of this article.
The copyright line for this article was changed on November 14 after original online publication.
Abstract
Methods
The article is based on ∼50 fieldwork interviews conducted in both Moldova and Crimea with everyday social actors (2012–2013).
Results
Ethnic homogeneity for kin majorities is more fractured that previously considered. Respondents identified more in terms of assemblages of ethnic, cultural, political, linguistic, and territorial identities than in mutually exclusive census categories.
Conclusions
To understand fully the relations between kin majorities, their kin-state and home-state and the impact of growing kin engagement policies, like dual citizenship, it is necessary to analyze the complexities of the lived experience of kin identification for members of kin majorities and how this relates to kin-state identification and affiliation. Understanding these complexities helps to have a more nuanced understanding of the role of ethnicity in post-Communist societies, in terms of kin-state and intrastate relations.