Date of Award

Spring 2015

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

International Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Anne Lambright

Abstract

This study will focus on the Jewish and Arab migrant groups in Argentina. By honing in on specifically (exclusively) Jewish and Arab barrios in Argentina, numerous questions will be raised on both populations’ identity in society and relationship to each other and their relative “homelands”.

Firstly, the thesis will examine the historic migration of both the Jewish and Arab populations to Argentina. Jews comprise approximately 250,000 of those Argentina’s population, and boast one of the largest diasporic Jewish populations in the world. Arab Argentines are one of the biggest Arab ethnic groups in Latin America and in the world.

The thesis will have three main focuses of study- the integration of each group in the wider Argentinian population, the interactions between the two groups and the relationship between these groups (and Argentina) and their countries of historic ethnic origin. Each interaction will be studies on a scale; for example, how much more one group has integrated than the other, (and why) and which group feels more intimately connected with and responsible to either Argentina or Israel/Palestine (and the conflict).

This thesis will use many methods of research. I will use specific frameworks that deal with both identity theory and assimilation theory to assess how these two groups see themselves within a wider context and how they have meshed into Argentinian culture. Using the media, such as newspaper articles and scholarly articles discussing Argentina, I can study the contemporary tensions that exist. Additionally, different social movements will be a point of interest, as there are groups such who pledge very strong allegiance to Jews or Arabs in Israel and Palestine, respectively. The policy of the Argentinian government is also important to this study, as the Argentine National Congress has taken very strong stances on the conflict abroad.

Comments

Senior thesis completed at Trinity College for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.

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