Transnationalizing Viet Nam offers an in-depth look at the dynamic and long-standing connections between Viet nam and its diaspora in the united States. These links are especially astounding considering the many decidedly antidiasporic elements in not only the home and host countries but also the ethnic community itself. This rich transnational history—which has gone largely undetected, or at least unrecognized—is revealed through nearly two decades of careful longitudinal, multisite research, punctuated by the voices of 250 interviewees.
Professor Emily Noelle Ignacio, author of Building Diaspora had this to say, "Transnationalizing Viet Nam greatly broadens our understanding of diasporic networks, transnationalism, and the Vietnamese diaspora. Valverde uniquely documents, over two decades, the tentative relationship between Vietnamese in the diaspora and those located in the homeland. She paints a vivid picture of the complex political landscape that influences diasporic members’ personal decisions and convincingly demonstrates that scholarship on ‘the immigrant experience’ and racial and/or ethnic identity must always take into account both the immigrants’ memories and present conceptions of both their ‘homeland’ and their homeland’s culture in relation to their perceptions of and actual experiences in the ‘host’ country."
Premier scholar of Ethnic Studies, Professor Yen Le Espiritu observed, Bridging Asian Studies and Asian American Studies, Transnationalizing Viet Nam is a rich and nuanced study of transnational linkages between Viet Nam and its diaspora in the United States. Through fascinating case studies of Vietnamese popular music productions, Internet virtual communities, diasporic art and community politics, Kieu-Linh Caroline Valverde provides a rare glimpse into how Vietnamese have connected their worlds and made meanings for themselves.
Senior Asian American
Studies scholar, Linda Vo, remarked about the book, [Valverde] delves into the most controversial
and complex issues facing the community and her selection of examples for each
chapter is deliberate and well chosen. A major strength...[is] that
also connects the chapters, is the analysis of the political identity of the
community, namely the debates over nationalism, homeland, and communism within
the community and how it manifests itself in various venues.
My book comes out October 5, 2012. It's already available for pre-order in places like amazon.com. Temple University Press is also offering the book at a discounted price until October 1, 2012. Type T20P to get the discount before checkout! Please also LIKE at the book's Facebook page.
My book comes out October 5, 2012. It's already available for pre-order in places like amazon.com. Temple University Press is also offering the book at a discounted price until October 1, 2012. Type T20P to get the discount before checkout! Please also LIKE at the book's Facebook page.
Look forward to hearing your impressions of the book!