Koyel Ranu

This research studied motivations and active engagement in  the social participation process of South Asians in Canada,  with comparison and contrast with Canadians (British lineage) and East Indians in their homeland (India).  In this endeavour, the circular relationship between social participation and social capital is investigated and the formulations of the concepts are problematized and critiqued. To ensure that concepts and indicators are contextually examined instead of being applied universally, both quantitative (inferential statistics) and qualitative methods (interviewing, narrative analysis, and critical discourse analysis) are deployed. Quantitative analysis indicates that ethnic background, interaction in networks of similar income, same sex networks, and networks of the same mother tongue negatively impact social participation processes, while sense of social obligation and helping others, positively influence social participation. Results from qualitative interviews demonstrate that the initial settlement process of South Asian immigrants deeply impacts their social participation process in Canada. Educational background, continuation of perspectives of life as developed in their country of origin, knowledge of general cognitive discourse on the western way of life, the choice of living in co-ethnic neighbourhoods profoundly influence social participation among South Asians, while perception of immigrants by mainstream Canadians affect their social participation in inter-ethnic networks. For Indians in their homeland, traditional cultural practices, and collective and normative expectations, influence the motivations behind social participation, but signs of change as influenced by more individualistic lifestyle choices were also apparent.