Exploring a Model of De-Ethnicization

Abstract

While ethnicization refers to the formation of social boundaries aiming to protect the integrity of (presumed) ethnic-cultural heritages, de-ethnicization refers to the `undoing' of such boundaries. Media can support developments in either direction. The conceptual model that is developed in this article distinguishes between two dimensions of discursive (de-)-ethnicization, the first dimension addressing ethnic-cultural difference as such, and the second dimension addressing social and political implications. The model is subsequently applied to make sense of empirical findings which suggest that Turkish satellite television, viewed in the context of the Netherlands, has the rather unexpected effect of de-ethnicizing young Turkish migrants' perceptions of cultural difference.