Journals Information
Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 3(8), pp. 389 - 398
DOI: 10.13189/sa.2015.030803
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"Race or Ethnic Group?" Politics of Race in Malaysia
Rie Nakamura *
College of Law, Government and International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the reasons why university students in Malaysia prefer the term race over ethnic groups. The usage of the word race by students and faculty members in the classroom will be examined, along with academic writings and media usages of this term. Further, reasons for the pervasiveness of the term race in Malaysia will be explored. In this paper I argue that the concept of race is used to create a notion that the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia are physically/biologically separate groups, and that their differences will never be changed. Such sedentary ethnic divisions are important for the maintenance of social hierarchy and status quo in Malaysia.
KEYWORDS
Race, Racial Discourse, Bumiputera, Ethnic Groups, Colonialism
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Rie Nakamura , ""Race or Ethnic Group?" Politics of Race in Malaysia," Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 3, No. 8, pp. 389 - 398, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2015.030803.
(b). APA Format:
Rie Nakamura (2015). "Race or Ethnic Group?" Politics of Race in Malaysia. Sociology and Anthropology, 3(8), 389 - 398. DOI: 10.13189/sa.2015.030803.