Honorable Mention; Book Award in History of the Association for Asian American Studies.In this book; Richard S. Kim examines the central role played by immigrants in the independence movement that sought to liberate Korea from Japanese colonization. Regarding Japanese rule as illegitimate; Koreans in and out of the Korean peninsula viewed themselves as a stateless people. Their independence activities had to be carried out from abroad; creating conditions for the emergence of a diasporic nationalism. Using English and Korean language sources; Kim traces how Koreans in the United States articulated visions of national sovereignty; drawing particularly on American political rhetoric and symbolism; and increasingly relied on U.S. state power to mobilize international support for their cause. Their efforts to establish an independent homeland necessitated their participation in civic and political activities in the United States; engaging in organizational activity that led to the development of an ethnic consciousness and paradoxically established them as an American ethnic group. Ultimately; Kim argues; homeland nationalism was central to the assimilation of Korean immigrants as American ethnics; even as they were denied U.S. citizenship.
#723204 in Books Oxford University Press 2008-07-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x 1.10 x 9.10l; 1.54 #File Name: 0195337573528 pagesOxford University Press
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Well explained historyBy MarieI did order this book for my college history class. I'm not a native English speaker and I was not born or raised in the USA. Keylor offers easy to read and understand detailed explanation of the main world events after 1945 from the "Western/American" point of view. I found this book very informative and honest. Despite the fact that "A World of Nations" doesn't analyze too much the influence of cultural and technological revolutions; it is a great book to help readers understand situation of today's world as a result of decisions made in the past. A couple of my classmates who are high school teachers expressed their wishes this book were available to the American high school students countrywide.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Two StarsBy Sherry ShaverThis is a very dry hard read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy JankowEasy to read and understand. Very good distillation of modern world history
