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Philosophische Fakultäta.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne

Dissertationproject of Punny Kabir

Identity as an Active Political Process: Navigating Solidarity in Rome’s Banglatown

This thesis explores the dynamic nature of identity formation within the Bangladeshi community living in a multicultural, working-class neighborhood in Torpignattara, Rome, informally known as 'Banglatown'. The central argument is that identity in this context is not static or inherited but an active political process shaped by interactions with other social actors, particularly local leftist and anarchist Italians. Drawing on ethnographic research, the thesis examines how political solidarity, cultural practices, and social struggles against racism, xenophobia, and economic challenges influence the construction of hybrid identities. The political landscape of Torpignattara is a key focus, with the local Bangladeshi association Dhumkatu and Italian activist groups playing a vital role in shaping the community's political and social dynamics. While solidarity fosters temporary unity, cultural tensions, and deep-rooted differences challenge its sustainability. The study seeks to offer insights into how migrant communities, devoid of linguistic, religious, cultural, and geographical ties to their new homes in Europe, leverage political activism as a strategy for survival and as a dynamic venue for negotiating their identity and asserting their presence in society.

 

Short Biography
Punny Kabir is a researcher in the field of anthropology with a focus on hybrid identities, migration, solidarity, integration, and diaspora politics. She is currently exploring the intersection of identity, political activism, and solidarity within the Bangladeshi migrant community in Rome as an a.r.t.e.s fellow at the University of Cologne. Punny holds an MA in South Asian Studies (major in anthropology) from Heidelberg University and both bachelor's and master's degrees in Mass Communication and Journalism from Dhaka University, Bangladesh.

 

Contact:  pkabir[at]smail.uni-koeln.de

 

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