Diasporic Identities—Reflections on Transnational Belonging

Abstract

The question of ‘diasporic identities’ has been a field of academic study, political debate and public controversy for a long time. Among several shortcomings in much of the existing writing is a certain identity fuzziness that should be addressed at several levels.It is of paramount importance to examine the concrete entity of diasporic identification. In this regard diasporic-ethnic, -national, and -civic identifications can be distinguished, depending on whether we consider individuals in their capacity as (a) members of the ethnic community in the country of residence; (b) having bonds with the place of origin as a nation and the people living there; or (c) being part of the state of origin with rights and responsibilities towards state institutions. Further, well-defined categories of analysis have to be adopted. For transnational activities with regard to the country of origin, self-categorization and commitment deserve particular attention. Recognizing the constructed character of ethnic, national and civic identifications, the determinants of their formation and change over time have to be examined carefully. With regard to potential or actual conflicts between multiple identifications, it is essential to re-examine critically many propositions about rival loyalties and competing identifications based on the adopted categories of analysis.