Special Issue - "Intersecting Identities: Ethnicity, Minority Status, and Marginalization in Asia"

Guest Editors:  

• Kwanchit Sasiwongsaroj, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand
• Lukas Husa, University of Vienna, Austria

 

Introduction

Asia, the largest and most diverse continent, is home to a complex tapestry of ethnicities, languages, cultures, religions, and colonial legacies, which have shaped the historical, social, and political landscapes of the region (Croissant & Trinn, 2009; Mackerras, 2003). Its rich historical and cultural diversity, combined with the current processes of sociocultural transformation, migration, and technological change, has transformed the landscape of Asian societies and created complex intersections between ethnicity and other minority identities. These intersections contribute to distinct experiences of discrimination, marginalization, and resistance across the region (Edwards & Roces, 2000; Jolley, 2022). Although these phenomena have expanded globally, a notable gap exists in understanding how these dynamics play out, specifically in Asia.

We aim to enhance our awareness of the sociocultural and historical contexts that influence the lives of ethnic minorities and underrepresented populations in this region. This special issue also aims to cultivate an environment that encourages conversation. It prioritizes and promotes the unrestricted exchange of socioeconomic, political, and cultural knowledge, providing academics from Asia and beyond with the opportunity to freely debate the advantages and disadvantages of working for a particular country’s ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups.

Scope of the issue

We are committed to promoting new ideas and expertise originating from Asian communities. Hence, this SI strives to compile scholarly contributions that provide a nuanced understanding of how multiple axes of identity—such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, ethnicity, and ability—interact and influence people’s experiences, particularly through the lens of migration, socio-cultural dynamics, and communication. This special issue will enrich the discourse on social justice, inclusion, and the lived realities of marginalized Asian communities.

The special issue will encourage contributions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• The intersection of ethnicity with other minority identities: How does the intersection of ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and migratory status contribute to experiences of discrimination, marginalization, and resistance within different Asian societies?
• Intersectionality and Social Justice Movements: Exploring how ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups—such as LGBTQ+ individuals, indigenous people, migrants, and others—organize for social change in Asia. What roles do ethnicity, identity politics, and intersectionality play in shaping these movements?
• Comparative Analysis of Marginalized Groups in Asia: A focus on comparing the experiences of ethnic minorities with other marginalized communities, such as religious minorities, migrant laborers, and Indigenous groups. What commonalities can be drawn between these groups, and how do they intersect regarding their struggles for social inclusion, economic equity, and political representation?
• Impact of State and Policy on Marginalized Groups: How do policies in Asian countries impact ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups? The state's role in either perpetuating or mitigating inequality, as well as the role of local and global advocacy networks.
• Cultural Representation and Media: Examining how ethnic minorities and other marginalized groups are portrayed in media and the arts and how these representations shape societal attitudes, perceptions of identity, and access to power.

We cordially invite you to submit an abstract on the aforementioned themes within a 300-word limit. Please send your abstracts via email to the guest editors at kwanchit.sai@mahidol.ac.th, and  lukas.husa@seas.at 

Timeline:

- Abstracts Due: March 10, 2025

- Decisions on Abstracts: April 1, 2025

- Full Manuscript Due: July 30, 2025

- Final Submission Due: January 1, 2026

- Special Issue Published: March 2026

References

Croissant, A & Trinn, C. (2009). Culture, identity and conflict in Asia and Southeast Asia. Asien: The German Journal on Contemporary Asia, 110, 13-43. https://asien.asienforschung.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/04/ASIEN_110_Croissant-Trinn.pdf

Edwards, L P. & Roces, M. (2000). Women in Asia: tradition, modernity, and globalisation. University of Michigan Press.

Jolly, S. (2022). Is development work still so straight? Heteronormativity in the development sector over a decade on. Development in Practice, 33(4), 463–474. https://doi:10.1080/09614524.2022.2115012

Mackerras, C. (2003). Ethnicity in Asia (Asia's Transformations): a comparative introduction (Asia's Transformations). Routledge.