SOCIOLOGY 400/600
RELIGION, TRANSNATIONALISM, AND CONTEMPORARY ASIAN
IMMIGRANTS
SPRING 2008, M, W, 12.45-2.05 P.M. IN MAX 303
Instructor: Prema Kurien
Office: Maxwell 302a
Ph: (315)- 443-1152
Email: pkurien@maxwell.syr.edu
Office Hours: Tue, W 11-12 and by appointment
Description
There has been an explosion of literature recently dealing with religion and
transnationalism (either treated separately or together) in the lives of contemporary
immigrants to Western countries. This course will examine this literature as it relates to
contemporary Asian Americans but we will also discuss some literature dealing with
Asian immigrants in Britain and Canada. We will look at a variety of Asian American
groups and religions. One of the important issues that we will be dealing with in the
course is the way in which the media (Internet, satellite TV, ethnic newspapers) permit
the creation of imagined ethnic communities and thus reinforces transnationalism.
Readings
Required for all:
Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues, Min, 2006
Asian American Religions, Carnes and Yang 2004
Anthony Alumkal, 1999 “Preserving Patriarchy: Assimilation, Gender Norms and
Second-Generation Korean American Evangelicals.” Qualitative Sociology 22: 124-140
Carolyn Chen 2006, “From Filial Piety to Religious Piety” International Migration
Review 40(3)573-602
Wendy Cadge, Gendered Religious Organizations: The Case of Theravada Buddhism in
America.” Gender and Society 2004, 18(6)777-793.
Select from the following list of Required Books and Articles
Undergraduate Students
Please pick 2 books from the list below, each dealing with a different group and religious
tradition and also pick the articles below dealing with 2 more groups. These will be
required reading so you should probably buy the 2 books in addition to the two required
books listed above.
Graduate Students
Please pick 3 books from the list below, and also read articles dealing with 2 more
groups.
1
Chinese American Christians
Books
God in Chinatown, Kenneth Guest
(or)
Chinese Christians in America, Fenggang Yang
Articles
Guest (ch 1 from Asian American Religions)
or
Yang 1998, Chinese Conversion to Evangelical Christianity: The Importance of Social
and Cultural Contexts. Sociology of Religion 59(3):237-257
Korean American Christians
Korean American Evangelicals, Elaine Ecklund
Article
Ecklund, 2005 “Us and Them”: The role of religion in mediating and challenging the
model minority and other Civic Boundaries.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 28(1)132-150
Korean American Buddhists
Being Buddhist in a Christian World, Sharon Suh
Article
Suh 2003. “To be Buddhist is to be Korean” pp 177-192 in Revealing the Sacred
Indian American Hindus
A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism, Kurien
Articles
Kurien 1998 “Becoming American By Becoming Hindu: Indian Americans Take their
Place at the Multi-cultural Table.” Pp. 37-70 in R. Stephen Warner and Judith G. Wittner
(eds). Gatherings in Diaspora: Religious Communities and the New Immigration. Temple
University Press.
(or)
Kurien 2004 “Multiculturalism and Ethnic Nationalism: The Development of aAmerican
Hinduism.” Social Problems, Vol 51 (3): 362-385.
(or)
Kurien 2005 “Being Young, Brown, and Hindu: The Identity Struggles of Second
Generation Indian Americans.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Vol 34 (4): 434
469.
Indian Sikhs
Lives in Translation: Sikh Youth as British Citizens, Kathleen D. Hall
Article
Hall 2004 “The Ethnography of Imagined Communities: The Cultural Production of Sikh
Ethnicity in Britian” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social
Science, 2004, 595(1):108-121 (Pdf available on-line
http://repository.upenn.edu/gse_pubs/74/ )
2
South Asian Muslims
Modood, Tariq, Multicultural Politics: Racism, Ethnicity and Muslims in Britain 2005
Articles
Levitt, 2002. “Transnational Options: Identity Construction among Pakistani Muslim
Immigrants.”
(or)
Nazli Kibria forthcoming “The New Islam and Bangladeshi Youth in Britain and the
U.S.” Ethnic and Racial Studies
Requirements
Book review
You should write a book review of between 750-800 words of one of the case studies
from above that you have selected to read. The review should briefly summarize the book
and its main argument (including its ‘findings’), the author’s theoretical approach, data
source, methodology, and writing style. You should also offer comments and critiques
(positive or negative) of the book, particularly focusing on its contribution to the
literature on religion and transnationalism among contemporary Asian immigrants. You
should be prepared to make a presentation based on the review and distribute copies of
your book review to your class-mates on the day that the book is being discussed. This is
due on Monday, February 11.
A Media Project
You should pick a topic for your final paper that deals with the themes of the course,
includes interviews with some Asian Americans (see below) and also incorporates some
media related research. As part of the media project you should do research one or more
Asian American groups using Ethnic Newswatch articles, ethnic Internet web sites or
discussion groups, Youtube, or ethnic TV or any combination of these and write a short
paper (around 3-4 double spaced pages) based on your research. This is due on Monday,
March 3.
Interview based Project
You should do at least 5 short interviews (15-20 minutes each) or 2-3 long interviews (1
hour each) with Asian Americans. You should either tape the interview or take detailed
notes while the person is talking. You should get the permission of the person before
taping or taking notes. The topic of the interviews should be linked with the themes of the
course. You should write a short paper (around 3-4 double spaced pages) based on your
interviews. The paper should include several direct quotations from the interviews. This
is due on Monday, April 7.
Two take home exams
These exams will be based on the readings for the course. For exam 1, students will pick
three Asian American groups and write an essay (the exact topic will be given out later)
based on the literature we have covered in class. For exam 2, students will pick 3
different Asian American religions and write an essay (again the exact topic will be given
3
out later) based on the literature covered in class. Exam 1 is due on Monday, March 24
and Exam 2 is due on Wednesday, April 23.
Final Paper
Final paper (at least 12 double spaced pages for undergraduates, at least 20 double spaced
pages for graduates) based on integrating the interviews, media research, and literature
relevant to the topic. The paper should have an argument that you support with your
evidence (i.e. it should not just be a descriptive paper). You should locate your paper and
argument within the literature on religion, transnationalism and Asian immigrants. While
the focus can be on one particular Asian American group or religious tradition, your
paper should show how and why the issues faced by the group or religious tradition are
similar or different from the other groups and traditions that we covered in class. This
paper is due on Monday, May 5.
Class Participation
This is a discussion oriented class and I expect and require active participation from
students. Students in discussion seminars are not just passive, silent consumers of
information. You must actively engage with the readings, lectures and class discussions.
Your class participation grade will be based on the contribution you have made (by your
questions, comments and answers) toward the learning experience of your classmates.
Some General Notes
1. Attendance is required.
2. As a general rule, late work will not be accepted and "incompletes" will not be given.
Exceptions will be made only in the cases of serious (and verified) personal emergency.
3.You are expected to do the readings on schedule (i.e. BEFORE the class period
indicated) and come to class prepared to discuss them.
4. Letter grades should be interpreted as follows:
A: Truly superior work, well above average for the class.
B: Adequate professional performance that is responsive to course requirements
and indicative of clear progress toward the Ph.D.
C: Work that is well below the standard expected of graduate students.
Here is a breakdown of your grade distribution for the class.
1. Book Review
2. Media Project
3. Interview Project
4. Exam 1
5. Exam 2
6. Final Paper
7. Class participation
5%
10%
10%
20%
20%
30%
5%
Academic Integrity
The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the
integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know
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that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations
with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the
integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of
signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities.
Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. Plagiarism (passing
off someone else's work or ideas as your own) will not be tolerated in this course. In
addition to a bibliography, students are expected to cite/acknowledge all sources in the
text of the paper. In cases where you are directly using the words of someone else, this
should always be in quotes and you should cite the exact page and source of the
quotation. Even if you rewrite someone else's material or ideas in your own words, you
must cite the page number(s) and source. I will go over this in class. Please see me if you
need further clarification. The penalty for plagiarism in class will be a Fail grade and I
will forward the documentation to the academic integrity board which might impose
further disciplinary action.
For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu
Students who may need academic accommodations due to a disability are encouraged to
discuss their needs with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. In order to obtain
authorized accommodations, students should be registered with the Office of Disability
Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498 and have an updated
accommodation letter for the instructor. Accommodations and related support services
such as exam administration are not provided retroactively and must be requested in
advance."
For more information about services and policy, see Office of Disability Services
Syracuse University
Office of Disability Services
804 University Avenue Room 309
Syracuse, New York 13244-2330
Phone: Voice: (315) 443-4498
TDD: (315) 443-1371
Class 1: Mon, Jan 14
Introduction: Who are Asian Americans? Do they have anything in
common?
Class 2: Wed, Jan 16
History of Asian Americans
Reading:
Ch 2 and 3 from Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues
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________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY, JANUARY 21, HOLIDAY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Class 3: Wed, Jan 23
Contemporary Asian Americans
Reading:
Ch 4 and 5 from Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues
Class 4: Mon, Jan 28
Religion and Asian Americans
Reading
“Introduction” in Asian American Religions
Start reading one of your books (undergraduates read at least 2 chapters, graduates read 3
chapters) and come prepared to discuss what you read.
Class 5: Wed, Jan 30
Transnationalism and Asian Americans
Reading:
Continue reading your book. Come prepared to discuss how transnationalism plays a role
for the group you are reading about.
Class 6: Mon, Feb 4
Transnationalism, Media and Asian Americans
Reading:
Complete book 1. Graduate students start book 2.
Do research on suitable media for the group(s) you have picked. Come prepared to
discuss your media project.
Class 7: Wed, Feb 6
Chinese Americans
Presentation of Guest book and also discuss article
Reading:
Chapter 6 from Asian Americans
Start your independent reading of book 2
Class 8: Mon, Feb 11
Chinese Americans
BOOK REVIEW IS DUE
Presentation of Yang book and also discuss article
Reading:
Continue your independent reading of book 2
Class 9: Wed, Feb 13
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Indian Americans
Reading:
Chapter 9 from Asian Americans
Continue your independent reading
Class 10: Mon, Feb 18
Indian Americans
Reading:
Kurien, “Christian by Birth or Rebirth.” In Asian American Religions
Independent reading
Class 11: Wed, Feb 20
Korean Americans
Reading:
Chapter 10 from Asian Americans
Independent reading
Class 12: Mon, Feb 25
Korean Americans
Reading:
Anthony Alumkal, 1999 “Preserving Patriarchy: Assimilation, Gender Norms and
Second-Generation Korean American Evangelicals.”
Independent reading
Class 13: Wed, Feb 27
Filipino Americans
Reading:
Chapter 8 from Asian Americans
Independent reading
Class 14: Mon, March 3
Filipino Americans
MEDIA PROJECT IS DUE
Reading:
Gonzales and Maison, “We do not bowl alone” Social and Cultural Capital from Filipinos
and their Churches.” In Asian American Religions
Class 15: Wed, March 5
Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
Discuss Levitt and Kibria articles
Reading:
Independent reading
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SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
Class 16: Mon, March 17
Asian American Coalitions
Reading:
Russell Jeung, “Creating an Asian American Christian Subculture: Grace Community
Church.” In Asian American Religions
Class 17: Wed, March 19
Asian American Christians
*Presentation on Korean American Christian transnationalism by Kyung Ju Ahn*
Reading:
Rebecca Kim, “Negotiation of Ethnic and Racial Boundaries by Asian American Campus
Evangelicals.” In Asian American Religions
Carolyn Chen, 2006. “From Filial Piety to Religious Piety.” International Migration
Review 40 (3) 573-602
Class 18: Mon, March 24
Asian American Christians
TAKE HOME EXAM 1 IS DUE
Discussion of Ecklund book and articles
Reading:
Independent reading
Class 19: Wed, March 26
Indian American Hindus
Discussion of popular Hinduism from Kurien book (chs 1-5) and Becoming American
article
Class 20: Mon, March 31
Video, Puja (70 minutes) on popular Hinduism in the U.S.
Class 21: Wed, April 2
Indian American Hindus
Discussion of second half of Kurien book (chs 6-11), and Multiculturalism and Being
Young articles
Class 22: Mon, April 7
South Asian American Muslims
Discussion of Modood book
INTERVIEW PROJECT IS DUE
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Class 23: Wed, April 9
Asian American Buddhists
*Presentation on transnational Buddhism by Juliana Finucane*
Class 24: Mon, April 14
Asian American Buddhists
Discussion of Suh book and article
Reading:
Wendy Cadge, “Gendered Religious Organizations: The Case of Theravada Buddhism in
America.” Gender and Society 2004, 18(6) 777-793.
Class 25: Wed, April 16
NO CLASS
Class 26: Mon, April 21
*Presentation on Sikhs in the U.S. by Cassidy Perreault*
Indian American Sikhs
Class 27: Wed, April 23
Discussion of Hall book and article
Class Presentation of Student Papers
TAKE HOME EXAM 2 IS DUE
Class 28: Mon, April 28
Class Presentation of Student Papers
FINAL PAPERS DUE ON MONDAY, MAY 5
Bibliography of Some Recent Books Dealing with Religion, Transnationalism and
Asian Immigrants:
General Textbook with Basic Information about the Various Groups
Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues, Min
Religion, Transnationalism and Contemporary Immigrants – General
Globalizing the Sacred, ed, Vasquez
Immigrant Faiths, Holdaway et al, eds
God Needs No Passport, Peggy Levitt
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Religion across borders, Ebaugh and Chafetz
Religion, Transnationalism and Asian Americans – General
Asian American Religions, eds. Carnes and Yang
Religions in Asian America, ed. Pyong Gap Min
New Spiritual Homes, Religion and Asian Americans, ed. David Yoo
Revealing the Sacred in Asian and Pacific America, eds. Iwamura and Spickard
Transnationalism and Asian Americans
Virtual Migration, A. Aneesh (Indians)
Global Body Shopping, Biao Xiang
Building Diaspora: Filipino Cultural Community Formation on the Internet, Ignacio
(Filipino)
Home Bound: Filipino Lives across cultures, communities and countries, Yen Le Espiritu
(Filipino)
Gonzalez and Maison, “We do not bowl alone: Social and Cultural Capital from Filipinos
and their Churches.” In Asian American Religions
Internet and Asian American Transnationalism
Asian America.Net: Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Cyberspace. Lee Rachel. 2003,
Routledge.
Virtual Culture: Identity and Communication in Cybersociety, Steve Jones 1997. Sage.
Religion, Transnationalism and Chinese Americans
Chinese Christians in America, Yang
God in Chinatown, Guest
Religion, Transnationalism and Indian Americans
New Roots in America’s Sacred Ground: Religion, Race and Ethnicity in Indian
America, Khyati Joshi
When Women Come First, Sheba George
A Place at the Multicultural Table: The Development of an American Hinduism, Kurien
Religion, Transnationalism and Korean Americans
Korean American Evangelicals, Elaine Ecklund
Entrepreneurship and Religion: Korean Immigrants in Houston, Texas
Gods New Whiz Kids, Rebecca Kim
Religion, Transnationalism and Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
Levitt, 2002. “Transnational Options: Identity Construction among Pakistani Muslim
Immigrants.”
Nazli Kibria “The New Islam and Bangladeshi Youth in Britain and the U.S.” Ethnic and
Racial Studies
Modood, Tariq, Multicultural Politics: Racism, Ethnicity and Muslims in Britain 2005
Asian American Christians and Transnationalism
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Faithful Generations: Race and the New Asian American Churches, Jeung, Russel
Asian American Evangelical Churches, Alumkal
Korean American Evangelicals, Elaine Ecklund
Christian by Birth or Rebirth, Kurien
God’s New Whiz Kids, Rebecca Kim
Articles from edited collections mentioned above
Chinese Christians in America, Yang
Asian American Buddhists
Being Buddhist in a Christian World, Sharon Suh
Heartwood: The First Generation of Theravada Buddhism in America, Wendy Cadge
Asian American Muslims and Transnationalism
Locating Home: India’s Hyderabadi’s Abroad
Levitt, 2002. “Transnational Options: Identity Construction among Pakistani Muslim
Immigrants.”
Nazli Kibria 2007 “The New Islam and Bangladeshi Youth in Britain and the U.S.”
Ethnic and Racial Studies
Modood, Tariq, Multicultural Politics: Racism, Ethnicity and Muslims in Britain 2005
Asian American Hindus and Transnationalism
A Place at the Multicultural Table, Kurien
Sikhs and Transnationalism
Lives in Translation: Sikh Youth as British Citizens, Kathleen D. Hall
The Sikhs in Canada: Migration, Race, Class and Gender, Gurcharn Basran, B. Sing
Bolaria. 2003
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