Sikh Nationalism and Identity in a Global Age

by Shani; Giorgio

• ISBN13: 9780415421904
• ISBN10: 041542190X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-12-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Sikh Nationalism and Identity in a Global Age examines the construction of a Sikh national identity in post-colonial India and the diaspora and explores the reasons for the failure of the movement for an independent Sikh state: Khalistan . Based on a decade of research, it is argued that the failure of the movement to bring about a sovereign, Sikh state should not be interpreted as resulting from the weakness of the 'communal' ties which bind members of the Sikh 'nation' together, but points to the transformation of national identity under conditions of globalization. Globalization is perceived to have severed the link between nation and state and, through the proliferation and development of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), has facilitated the articulation of a transnational 'diasporic' Sikh identity. It is argued that this 'diasporic' identity potentially challenges the conventional narratives of international relations andmakes the imagination of a post-Westphalian community possible. Theoretically innovative and interdisciplinary in approach, it will be primarily of interest to students of South Asian studies, political science and international relations, as well as to many others trying to come to terms with the continued importance of religious and cultural identities in times of rapid political, economic, social and cultural change.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. x
List of tables	p. xi
Preface and acknowledgements	p. xii
Abbreviations	p. xv
Introduction: rethinking Sikh nationalism in a global age	p. 1
Ethno-symbolist approaches	p. 2
Instrumentalist approaches	p. 4
Constructivist approaches	p. 6
Long-distance nationalism	p. 8
Globalization, sovereignty and national identity	p. 9
Rethinking Sikh nationalism	p. 11
The structure of the book	p. 14
From panth to qaum: the construction of a Sikh 'national' identity in colonial India	p. 17
The Sikh panth: from Nanak-panth to Khalsa panth	p. 21
The mythology and symbolism of the Khalsa	p. 24
'Singh-izing the Sikhs': the Tat Khalsa discourse and the colonial state	p. 26
The institutionalization of a 'Sikh' identity: from the CKD to the SGPC	p. 35
Conclusion	p. 39
The territorialization of the qaum: Sikh 'national' identity in independent India	p. 40
The Nehruvian secular settlement	p. 41
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the movement for the Punjabi Suba	p. 43
The 'violence' of the Green Revolution and Sikh 'kulak' nationalism	p. 48
Imagining Khalistan	p. 51
The 'communalization' of the Punjab and state terrorism	p. 53
The militarization of the qaum	p. 56
Conclusion	p. 58
From Khalistan to Punjabiat: globalization, Hindutva and the decline of Sikh militancy	p. 61
Economic liberalization in India	p. 62
Rebranding India: the challenge of Hindu nationalism	p. 66
Globalization, regionalism and the 'new democratic alignment': an analysis of the 2004 elections	p. 71
Globalization, the SAD-BJP alliance and the reassertion of Punjabi identity in post-Blue Star Punjab	p. 73
Conclusion	p. 77
'The territorialization of memory': Sikh nationalism in the 'diaspora'	p. 79
A Sikh diaspora?	p. 80
The Sikh nationalist discorse in the diaspora	p. 82
Partition	p. 86
'Operation Blue Star'	p. 94
Conclusion	p. 98
The politics of recognition: from a Sikh 'national' to a Sikh 'diasporic' identity in a post-9/11 world?	p. 100
Location and identity: the dynamics of Sikh diaspora nationalism	p. 102
Britain: from 'nation-state' to 'community of communities'?	p. 105
Who are we? Khalistan, 9/11 and Sikh-American identity	p. 114
Conclusion	p. 125
Beyond Khalistan? The Sikh diaspora, globalization and international relations	p. 128
The Westphalian order and IR theory	p. 129
'A revolt against the West': the global religious resurgence	p. 132
Beyond Westphalia? Globalization, transnational religious communities and international relations	p. 133
Serving the qaum: Sikh transnational religious actors	p. 137
Beyond Khalistan? Voices from the diaspora	p. 142
Concluding remarks	p. 149
Conclusion	p. 152
Full questionnaire results (India)	p. 157
Notes	p. 161
Bibliography	p. 173
Index	p. 195
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