Between Borders : The Intersection of Nationalism and Transnational Identities in Korean Adoptees

This article explores the complex interplay between nationalism and transnational adoption, using the case of Korean adoptees in the United States to highlight how nationalist ideologies and transnational realities intersect and affect individual identities. The argument posits that while nationalism traditionally seeks to create a homogeneous national identity, transnational adoption introduces nuances that challenge these homogenizing forces by presenting a form of hybridity and transnational identity that cannot be easily reconciled with conventional nationalist narratives. It delves into how Korean adoptees navigate their identities between ethnic nationalism in Korea and civic nationalism in the US, suggesting that transnational adoptees live within a tension of being neither fully one nor the other. The purpose of this paper is to deepen the understanding of how transnational adoptees form their identities amidst contrasting nationalisms and to examine the implications of these identities for broader debates on nationalism and globalization. By focusing on Korean adoptees, the paper seeks to illuminate the broader social and political mechanisms at play in shaping transnational identities, thereby contributing to academic discussions in the fields of sociology, cultural studies, and international relations.