Global South Asians: Introducing the Modern Diaspora (New Approaches to Asian History)

Citation

Ratten, V. (2007), "Global South Asians: Introducing the Modern Diaspora (New Approaches to Asian History)", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 202-203. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506200710752610

As the title of this book suggests, people from South Asia have migrated to a number of different countries throughout the world and this migration has significantly influenced international entrepreneurship. Judith Brown in this book describes the influence of South Asians in the world economy. Most of the South Asians who have migrated come from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and it is their culture and in particularly their religion that has influenced their business activities. This book is divided into five chapters with an introduction and conclusion also included.

The first chapter is on the traditions of stability and movement of South Asians. The author highlights that religion is a dynamic force that has influenced in particularly Indian migration. Indian Muslims are involved in networks that encourage education and it is through these networks that their global business activities especially in the areas of exporting and importing have flourished. The second chapter is on the making of a modern diaspora. The author discusses that this diaspora is heavily influenced by religion in terms of migrants returning to their homeland to marry and to be buried. A discussion on the changing nature of the diaspora of South Asians in terms of how religion influences everyday life is addressed. For example, there is a growing number of businesses that are focusing on religious aspects such as promoting the use of halal meat in their products.

Chapter 3 discusses how global South Asians have created new homes and communities. Religion has provided a supporting institutional framework that has enabled businesses to export their products and services to South Asia. In particular, jewellery, cooking ingredients and travel to South Asia have been reliant on religion to support their growth. The author highlights that there is a strong connection between religion and culture that stems from South Asia no matter whether a person is Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Jains or Parsis. Chapter 4 examines how global South Asians relate to their new homeland. The author discusses the experience of South Asian women in the diaspora in terms of religion and the traditions that they pass onto their children.

Chapter 5 discusses how global South Asians relate to the old homeland. This chapter is interesting as it provides unique commentary on how South Asians living outside their homeland keep their religious traditions alive in an environment often very different to that from which they grew up. This link with religion is often an identifying force that enables business contacts and networks to be made throughout the world. The book highlights that many South Asians left their homeland to seek business opportunities but religion is the strongest factor that ties them and their descendents to their homeland.

Whilst many books have examined historically South Asia, this book focuses on the important topic of creating a modern diaspora. Given the huge influence that South Asian food, movies and culture have had on the world, it is important to realise the role of religion behind these activities. There is a gap in the existing research on the role of religion and entrepreneurship so this book adds to this important discussion in the literature. It would have been useful to include more commentary on the role of religion and how it has explicitly influenced business activities in the diaspora. However, as the author implies, the role of religion in business is often taken for granted rather than specifically studied. This book provides for very interesting reading for scholars interested in ethnic, indigenous and international entrepreneurship. The book also highlights the important role of communities in fostering entrepreneurial activities.