Homogeneity vs. Heterogeneity: An Identity crisis of the communities in the Jiu Valley

Abstract

The history of the Jiu Valley has gone through multiple stages that have polished the identity of the communities. The development of mine exploitation has attracted immigrants from all over the country and from abroad. This has led to the emergence of two types of local identity communities: the natives and the newcomers. The relations between them have influenced the strategies used in building their constitution of identity. This paper focuses on the idea that these two types of identity are directly responsible for the degree of community homogeneity. In this respect, the natives belonged to a homogeneous community, with one dominant source of collective identity, while the arrival of the newcomers transformed the community into a heterogeneous one, with pluralistic sources of identity. These aspects reflect in the identity narratives which can be found in the Jiu Valley nowadays. The analysis of these narratives shows a common history, filled with tension, negation, disappointment, and acceptance.