POLITICAL ORIENTATIONS OF YOUNG BANGLADESHIS IN BRITAIN

This article explores the political orientations and identities of young second-generation Bangladeshis in Britain. It examines how this generation navigates the complex process of identity formation, balancing their Bangladeshi heritage with their British upbringing. The study investigates their levels of political engagement, both in British mainstream politics and in community and transnational politics related to Bangladesh. The research analyzes the key issues that mobilize and concern this demographic, such as racism and Islamophobia in Britain, as well as political developments in their country of origin. The paper explores the concept of "hybrid identities" and argues that the political orientations of young British Bangladeshis are not a simple choice between two cultures but a complex and dynamic synthesis of both. The analysis concludes by assessing the growing political significance of this new generation within both the British political landscape and the broader Bangladeshi diaspora.

The children of the first generation of Bangladeshi immigrants to Britain, coming of age in the 1990s, represented a new and distinct social and political force. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the political orientations and identities of this second generation. The study begins by challenging simplistic notions of assimilation or alienation. It argues that young British Bangladeshis were actively constructing complex "hybrid identities" that drew on both their British and Bengali cultural heritages. The core of the paper is an exploration of their political engagement. It examines their participation in mainstream British politics, their voting patterns, and their involvement in local community activism, particularly in areas like London's East End. A key focus is the politicization of this generation around issues of identity, racism, and religion. The paper analyzes the impact of Islamophobia and the rise of a more assertive British Muslim identity as a key component of their political consciousness. At the same time, it explores their continued connection to the politics of Bangladesh, often facilitated by family ties and new media technologies. The findings reveal a generation that is politically engaged on multiple fronts, simultaneously asserting their rights as British citizens while maintaining a strong and often politicized connection to their ancestral homeland. The paper concludes that this generation was poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the Bangladeshi community in Britain and the evolving nature of the diaspora.