Work

Connecting Homeland and Borders Using Mobile Telephony: Exploring the State of Tamil Refugees in Indian Camps

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: This article attempts to explain how mobile phones influence how Sri Lankan Tamil refugees perceive cultural, psychological, and physical borders. Grounded in the information and communications technology (ICT) literature and diaspora communications, the lead author conducted twelve in-depth interviews with Mandapam camp residents in Tamilnadu, India, during Summer 2013. Results indicate that while camp refugees considered Sri Lanka their “motherland,” fear of government surveillance coupled with skepticism regarding the peace process impedes their return, even though official hostilities have ceased. However, mobile communications allow them to create a virtual community, which is important because camp life essentially separates them from both India and Sri Lanka.

Source: Journal of Information Policy

DOI: 10.5325/jinfopoli.7.1.0086

Authors: Akshaya Sreenivasan, Steve Bien-Aimé, Colleen Connolly-Ahern

Institutions: Texas A&M University, Louisiana State University, Pennsylvania State University, Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication

Language: English

Topic: Diaspora, migration, transnational identity

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2600838786

FWCI: 4.266

Cites: 36

Cited by: 13

Related to: 10