Journal of Information Policy
Volume 7, 2017, Pages 86-110

Connecting homeland and borders using mobile telephony: Exploring the state of Tamil refugees in Indian camps (Review) (Open Access)

Sreenivasan A. , Bien-Aimé S. , Connolly-Ahern C.
  • a Department of Marketing, Mays Business School, Texas A and M University, United States
  • b Department of Journalism, Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University, United States
  • c College of Communications, Pennsylvania State University, Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, Pennsylvania State University, United States

Abstract

This article attempts to explain how mobile phones influence how Sri Lankan Tamil refugees perceive cultural, psychological, and physical borders. Grounded in the information and communications technology (ICT) literature and diaspora communications, the lead author conducted twelve in-depth interviews with Mandapam camp residents in Tamilnadu, India, during Summer 2013. Results indicate that while camp refugees considered Sri Lanka their “motherland,” fear of government surveillance coupled with skepticism regarding the peace process impedes their return, even though official hostilities have ceased. However, mobile communications allow them to create a virtual community, which is important because camp life essentially separates them from both India and Sri Lanka. © 2017 Penn State University Press. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Mobile phones India ICT Sri Lanka Development Refugees

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85051187924&doi=10.5325%2fjinfopoli.7.2017.0086&partnerID=40&md5=17066dab2288ed579e688af8bff5cf3d
DOI: 10.5325/jinfopoli.7.2017.0086
ISSN: 23815892
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English