Original scientific paper
Perceptions of Ethnic Identity: Application of a Model
Siniša Malešević
; Culturelink Network/IRMO, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The 1990's are marked by so called "explosion of ethnicity". Contemporary societies, and especially East European societies are completely featured by ethnic phenomena. Taking into account that understanding of ethnicity is one of the "keys" for solving some of important problems of contemporary world, this article is written with an aim to try to demistify some aspects of this phenomena, among which especially the term and idea of "ethnic identity". With the purpose of location of different types of ethnic identity has been made an empirical research on representative sample of student population of University of Zagreb (N=298). In choosing of applicable conceptual approach by analyzing different theoretical positions, the author has operationalised the Wsewold W. Isajiw's concept of retention of ethnic identity. The questionnaire consisted of two instruments − "hierarchy of social identities" and "ethnic identity". The analysis of distribution of frequencies has shown the existence of specific hierarchy of social identities among investigated population, where on the top of the scale is belonging to an ethnic group. The factor analysis has extracted three concepts of ethnic identity (rithualistic-affective identity, identity of rebellion, cognitive identity) which follow Isajiw's concept. Multiple regression analysis has just proved these types of ethnic identities. The author believes that identificated "domination of ethnicity" could be interpreted through situational theoretical traditions.
Keywords
ethnic identity; social identity; ethnic group
Hrčak ID:
127085
URI
Publication date:
31.3.1994.
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