Three Meanings of “Diaspora,” Exemplified among South Asian Religions

Abstract

“Diaspora” is the term often used today to describe practically any population that is considered “deterritorialized” or “transnational”—that is, which has originated in a land other than that in which it currently resides, and whose social, economic, and political networks cross the borders of nation-states or, indeed, span the globe. To be sure, such populations are growing in prevalence, number, and self-awareness. Several are emerging as (or have historically long been) significant players in the construction of national narratives, regional alliances, or global political economies.