Paper short abstract:

The paper examines moral boundary making and mediation in intra- and inter-ethnic relations of middle class Filipino transnationals in Indian cities.

Paper long abstract:

The paper examines the formation of moralities in the context of intra- and inter-ethnic relations of middle class Filipinos in Indian cities. What moralities emerge from interactions among Filipino transnationals, and between them and Indian locals? How might social relations shaped by such moralities be characterised? In addressing these questions, I explore the moralities, tensions and modes of relations that emerge in the context of a global South transnational migration route. Based on analysis of ethnographic data and interactions between Filipino transnationals and Indian locals in online spaces (e.g. Yahoo news group and Facebook), I find simultaneous processes of boundary making (Sayer 2005) and mediation among research participants. While they seek to assert their moral dispositions, they also find ways to mediate between conflicting moralities through discourse on- and offline. Filipino transnationals tend to use propriety, competence and cosmopolitanism as moral boundaries among them and in relation to Indian locals. In turn, the latter use cosmopolitanism and tolerance as criteria in evaluating the manner in which Filipino transnationals relate to them. The tension between boundary making and mediation may reinforce or reconstitute moral dispositions and give rise to ethical terms of relating. I highlight the discursive work of mediators in articulating both sides of a boundary and in finding ethical terms of relations. Indeed, the situation of transnational migration shows how the middle class propensity for moral distinction might be eclipsed by an ethical demand for social connection (Zigon 2008).