Multicultural Narrative

Scott R. WIlson's article "Making Hakka Spaces: Resisting Multicultural Nationalism in Taiwan," is yet another one that tackles issues surrounding nationalism in Taiwan. In this article, "state - sponsored" nationalism, which attempts to "enforce" a "cultural uniformity" within the country, is the focus (414). Wilson talks about the nationalist projects that occur in Taiwan, which he claims exist to show the relation of the political and social aspects of the country. By linking the "sociocultural borders," with the political, these projects attempt to illustrate a picture of a "homogenous people" (414). However, as WIlson is quick to point out, this type of hegemony is "difficult to achieve," especially in "modern societies" (415). It is on the same "grounds," where nationalist projects attempt to from a rigid uniformity, that their nationalism is "contested on a daily basis" (415). To gather more info about this conflict, WIlson conducted fieldwork in Taipei, Taiwan. He talked with twelve different culture workers, which is certainly appropriate for the topic of nationalism and projects that attempt to achieve cultural uniformity. This fieldwork, conducted with the help of the culture workers, helped gain understanding about the Hakka people. The Taiwanese Hakka are seen as "uneducated, mountain-dwelling hillbillies" (416). On top of that, this group of people is defined by a "collective identity," which "crosses the mainlander Chinese/ ethnic Taiwanese ethnic boundary" (416). Needless to say, it would be difficult to constrict the way in which the Hakka people define themselves and find a cultural uniformity for them, that fits in with the context of nationalism within Taiwan. This is perhaps why Taiwan has had to refine its context of nationalism. To do this, they ushered in a "new era of multicultural nationalism" (420). Multiculturalism however, tends to enable the ignorance of "histories of social inequality" in order to continue on with its "celebration of ethnic diversity" (422). In other words, it may not be a beneficial context for groups such as the Hakka. The idea of Taiwan using a multicultural narrative to define itself, makes at seem as if the country was(is) attempting to find a solution, to ease the tension of attempting to fit in a variety of different collective identities, into a rigid nationalist context. Although it seems as if multiculturalism could be the answer, Wilson shows that it creates many complications and does not ease any of the tension. Wilson explains that the narratives that are forced on the people by the nation, are often "resisted" (424). Even though Taiwan attempts to function under the narrative of multiculturalism, culture workers still have to put in effort to make sure that people such as the Hakka are not undermined within that context. The cultural tensions within Taiwan, could in a sense be compared to what occurs in the west. Western nations such as Canada and the United States, both relate to a multicultural narrative. It looks like this type of narrative is always used as an attempt to offer a simple solution to a culturally complex area. WIlson reveals this by illustrating the situation in Taiwan. It seems as if a multicultural narrative, is capable of causing more problems than it solves. 

Work Cited 

Wilson, R. Scott. 2009. “Making Hakka Spaces: Resisting Multicultural Nationalism in Taiwan.” 

Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power 16 (4): 414-437.