The Construction of Diasporic Identity Through Cultural Expression: The Case of Syrians in the Netherlands

Author: Arianna Folcia

Abstract:

This article explores how displaced Syrians in the Netherlands reconstruct their identity through cultural expression. While much of the existing literature on the Syrian diaspora limits its focus on descriptions of displacement, this study shifts attention to the creative practices, such as music, dance, visual arts, and culinary traditions that shape diasporic identity. Drawing on narrative interviews with nine Syrian participants, both artists and non-artists, the research outlines how cultural expression serves as a constitutive means to reconstruct identity in exile. The discussion is structured around three central themes: the evolving concept of home, the role of community and cultural expression in establishing a sense of belonging to the Netherlands, and how those influence the reconfiguration of Syrianness in exile. Findings show that Syrianness is not a static identity, but a contextually responsive construct achieved through artistic means.

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