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Toward an Eccentric Cosmopolitanism

Toward an Eccentric Cosmopolitanism Let me begin by saying that I like the title of this panel: “Positions on the Diaspora.” This title suggests to me that diasporan cultural politics is in process and on the way and far from complete. Clearly, diasporas are real, historically and experientially; but no phenomenon acquires a politics of its own except through an act of representation. T h e purpose of having a position on the diaspora is to produce a critical perspective on the diasporan predicament, and from there, to argue for a certain kind of political-cultural practice. Of course, there is no one exemplary or representative diasporan stand. Here are a few options: ( I ) T h e diaspora could be thought of purely in terms of its present location as a form of commitment to the history of the present. This option could well be styled as “the all-American” way, characterized as it is by a radical forgetfulness of history. (2)It is possible to fashion diasporan cultures around structures of nostalgia for the Old Country. This option would virtually disconnect the diaspora from either kind of worldlipositions 3:.3 0 1995by Duke University Press I Toward an Eccentric Cosmopolitanism ness: Old World http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png positions asia critique Duke University Press

Toward an Eccentric Cosmopolitanism

positions asia critique , Volume 3 (3) – Dec 1, 1995

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Publisher
Duke University Press
Copyright
Copyright 1995 by Duke University Press
ISSN
1067-9847
eISSN
1527-8271
DOI
10.1215/10679847-3-3-814
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Let me begin by saying that I like the title of this panel: “Positions on the Diaspora.” This title suggests to me that diasporan cultural politics is in process and on the way and far from complete. Clearly, diasporas are real, historically and experientially; but no phenomenon acquires a politics of its own except through an act of representation. T h e purpose of having a position on the diaspora is to produce a critical perspective on the diasporan predicament, and from there, to argue for a certain kind of political-cultural practice. Of course, there is no one exemplary or representative diasporan stand. Here are a few options: ( I ) T h e diaspora could be thought of purely in terms of its present location as a form of commitment to the history of the present. This option could well be styled as “the all-American” way, characterized as it is by a radical forgetfulness of history. (2)It is possible to fashion diasporan cultures around structures of nostalgia for the Old Country. This option would virtually disconnect the diaspora from either kind of worldlipositions 3:.3 0 1995by Duke University Press I Toward an Eccentric Cosmopolitanism ness: Old World

Journal

positions asia critiqueDuke University Press

Published: Dec 1, 1995

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