Ambiguity of Identity

This book considers how the Na Mieu (Mieu people) of North Vietnam adapted to a world in which other peoples – the Tay and the Kinh – are dominant, and how the modern state increasingly reshaped the conditions in which they live. It identifies the extent of the Mieu's adaptation in light of the policies of integration and modernization imposed upon them by the modern state. It also considers the changes undergone by the Mieu as they reconstruct their identity and present themselves as a distinct people. Finally, by placing the transformation of Mieu identity in the broader context of multi-ethnic nationstates, it discusses the general nature and processes of change in ethnic identities.