Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS …………………………………………………………………….. iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………….. iv
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………….. 1
1.1. RATIONALE OF THIS STUDY …………………………………………………….. 4
1.1.1. The IRB’s Regulatory Function ………………………………………………………… 4
1.1.2. Identity Construction ……………………………………………………………………….. 5
1.1.3. Distributive Justice …………………………………………………………………………… 6
1.1.4. Understanding Credibility Assessments ………………………………………… 7
1.1.5. Public Policy ……………………………………………………………. 7
1.2. OVERVIEW OF THE THESIS ………………………………….. 9
CHAPTER 2 CULTURE, RACE, AND IMMIGRATION LAW: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ………………………………………. 12
2.1. CONCEPTIONS OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE……………………………………. 13
2.1.1. The Importance of Culture ……………………………………………………………………….. 13
2.1.2. Problematic Representations of Culture ……………………………………………………. 15
2.1.3. Constructivist Accounts of Culture …………………………………………………………… 22
2.1.4. Culture as Performance ……………………………………… 26
2.2. CRITICAL RACE THEORY………………………………………………………………….. 30
2.2.1. The Prevalence of Racism …………………………………………………………………………. 30
2.2.2. Race as a Legal Construction …………………………………………………………………….. 32
2.2.3. Anti-Essentialism and Intersectionality …………………………………………………….. 34
2.3. IMMIGRATION LAW AS A SITE FOR CONSTRUCTING IDENTITY…………………….. 37
2.3.1. Constructing a National Identity ………………………………………………………………. 37
2.3.2. Constructing Outsiders …………………………………………………………………………….. 41
2.3.3. Constructing Refugees ……………………………………………………………………………… 45
2.4. CONCLUSION …………………………………………. 48
CHAPTER 3 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF IRB DECISIONS ………………… 49
3.1. BACKGROUND ……………………………… 50
3.1.1. The IRB’s Structure and Process ………………………………. 50
3.1.2. Critiques of the IRB’s Decision-Making Process ………………………. 53
3.2. ANALYSIS OF IRB DECISIONS FROM 2004 TO 2010……………………………….. 59
3.2.1. Methodology …………………………………………………………………………………… 59
3.2.2. The IRB’s Understanding of its Role ……………………………………………….. 61
3.2.3. The Cultural Validity of Marriage …………………………………………………………….. 63
3.2.4. Spousal Compatibility ………………………………………………………………………………. 83
3.2.5. Cultural Conceptions of Adoption ………………………………………………………….. 103
3.2.6. Common-Law and Conjugal Partnerships ………………………………………………. 105
3.2.7. Parents and Cultural Duties of Care ……………………………………………………….. 108
3.2.8. Opinion and Documentary Evidence ……………………………………………………… 110
3.3. CONCLUSION ………………………………………. 117
CHAPTER 4 REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSION ……………….. 120
4.1. REFLECTIONS …………………………………………………….. 121
4.1.1. Knowing What We “Know” About Culture ………………………………. 121
4.1.2. Moral Respect and Institutional Humility ………………………………… 126
4.1.3. Increasing Diversity ……………………………………………………… 131
4.2. CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………… 136
4.2.1. Further Directions …………………………………………………………………. 136
4.2.2. Concluding Remarks ……………………………………………………….. 137
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………. 138