‘When and where does being Welsh matter to me?’ The influence of cross-border mobilities on constructions of sub-national belonging in the lives of Welsh Muslims^*

* The research was conducted whilst researching my PhD at Cardiff University.

Abstract

This article will discuss how Welsh Muslims construct what a sense of place means to them through their cross-border mobility between England and Wales, and how this contributes to the ongoing re-construction of a plural understanding of nationhood in an era of diversity. To understand when and where being Welsh matters to Welsh Muslims, it will explore how mobility rather than being the antithesis of belonging, can be used as an essential tool in highlighting how perceptions of the nation, sub-state nation, home and place are influenced and understood.

Keywords:

• Muslim identity
• Wales
• mobility
• sub-state Nation
• nationalism
• cross-border mobility
• belonging

Notes

* The research was conducted whilst researching my PhD at Cardiff University.