Key research themes
1. How is ethnic identity conceptualized and measured as a multifaceted, developmental, and dynamic construct?
This theme focuses on understanding ethnic identity as a complex, multidimensional process that evolves over time through exploration and commitment. It concerns the development of theoretical models and measurement tools, such as the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), that capture the psychological, social, and behavioral components of ethnic identity. This research is critical to accurately assessing ethnic identity’s role in individuals’ self-concept and intergroup relations, especially among ethnic minorities in diverse and multicultural societies.
2. What emotional, cognitive, and interest-based motives underlie the development of national identities?
This research area investigates the psychological and socio-political processes through which national identities emerge, emphasizing the roles of emotional attachments, cognitive frameworks, and instrumental interests. It challenges the predominance of modernist, functionalist explanations of nationalism by incorporating primordial and ethnosymbolist perspectives that highlight deep-seated emotional bonds and shared cultural symbols. Understanding these drivers provides a comprehensive, tripartite framework that integrates affective, intellectual, and rational components contributing to national self-identification.
3. How do ethnic identification, intergroup conflict narratives, and social-political contexts influence support for minority rights and pro-minority policies among majority and minority groups?
This theme addresses the complex dynamics of ethnic identity as they relate to intergroup relations and political attitudes in contexts marked by ethnic conflict. It explores how strong ethnic identification plays distinct roles for minority versus majority groups, affects perceptions of group victimhood, and shapes endorsement of multicultural policies and minority rights. Conflict narratives and allyship emerge as critical mediators in processes of outgroup recognition, reconciliation, and policy support, offering refined understanding of identity-politics linkages in ethnically divided societies.