Diaspora Engagement Research Articles

The role of geographical distance in transnational institutional engagement of the Czech diaspora: a comparative study

Engagement with institutions from migrants’ country of origin, both in the destination country and in the country of origin, is distinct transnational behaviour. This study investigates the impact of geographical distance on the institutional engagement of migrants from Czechia in five global regions. We examine how geographic (physical) proximity to Czechia shapes institutional engagement with the country of origin and identify factors beyond distance influencing institutional engagement. We analyzed survey data from Czech emigrants (N = 940) in neighbouring countries, Western and Northern Europe, Southern and Eastern Europe, overseas Anglo-Saxon countries, and other countries. We found that respondents from all more distant regions have higher levels of institutional engagement in the destination country than those from neighbouring countries. Length of stay and education were relevant factors for all selected regions, while place of residence (living in a metropolis) and the level of transnational behavior had varying impacts across regions. Concerning institutional engagement in origin country, the level of transnationalism was consistently the strongest predictor across. Transnational studies should incorporate geographic variables, such as physical distance into their conceptual frameworks. We expect our findings to be generalizable to other countries similar to Czechia, i.e. high-income countries whose citizens benefit from liberal visa regimes.

Toward Effective Diaspora Engagement: Developing a Comprehensive Taxonomy for Diaspora Policies

Toward Effective Diaspora Engagement: Developing a Comprehensive Taxonomy for Diaspora Policies

Navigating Mediated Spaces: Screens and Connectivity in Ikebukuro Chinatown’s Chinese Diaspora

This research explores the profound impact of digital media on the lives of Chinese immigrants in Ikebukuro Chinatown. It illustrates how the Internet and digital platforms have transformed their economic, social, and identity landscapes. Employing qualitative methods such as surveys and interviews, this study underscores the pivotal role of social media in creating expansive networks. These networks facilitate ethnic entrepreneurship and enhance cultural visibility, contributing to the deterritorialization of traditional community confines. This empowerment enables the Chinese diaspora in Ikebukuro to cultivate a rich, interconnected social tapestry that extends beyond geographic limitations. The findings underscore the central role of digital media mediatization processes in redefining immigrant experiences. Additionally, they promote deeper, more dynamic integration within the host society’s multicultural environment. This transformative shift emphasizes the emergence of a more fluid, networked form of community and identity among immigrants. It challenges conventional enclave models and offers new perspectives on diaspora engagement in the digital age.

Peran Diaspora Armenia dalam Konflik Nagorno Karabakh Tahun 2020-2022

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from 2020 to 2022 highlights the significant role of the Armenian diaspora in supporting Armenia across various dimensions. The research aims to determine the extent to which the Armenian diaspora's support influences the Armenian government's capacity to handle the conflict. The study utilizes theories of public diplomacy and diaspora engagement, employing a mixed-methods approach that includes qualitative data from secondary data processing such as journals and written results containing data about Armenian Diaspora, official website of the Armenian government, and quantitative data from financial contributions and diplomatic records. Findings indicate that the Armenian diaspora's political lobbying and advocacy efforts have secured significant diplomatic support, while economically providing substantial remittances, investments, and humanitarian aid. Socially, the diaspora has shaped international public opinion through campaigns and cultural activities, and intellectually, it has offered strategic insights enhancing the government's approach to the conflict. Additionally, the mobilization of human resources by the diaspora has provided direct assistance in Armenia. This research offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics between the Armenian diaspora and the Armenian government, demonstrating the substantial impact of multidimensional diaspora support on the government's capacity to manage the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Changing diasporic identity and increasing global backlash: the Xi government’s tactics and challenges of engaging new generation overseas Chinese

ABSTRACT The transnational engagement between the Chinese communist government and first-generation overseas Chinese has been analysed extensively, but the academic analysis of interactions between the Chinese communist government under Xi Jinping and new generation overseas Chinese is scarce. Questions arise regarding how the rise of new generation overseas Chinese has changed the diasporic identity of the overseas Chinese community; what the Xi government’s tactics of engaging new generation overseas Chinese are; and how new generation overseas Chinese respond to the Xi government’s targeted campaign. By answering these questions, this article provides an important case study for the emerging scholarship on the relations between authoritarian states and new generation diasporas. Building on government archives, ethnographic interviews, media reports, and online and offline diaspora events, this article analyses the Xi government’s tactics and challenges of diaspora engagement targeting new generation overseas Chinese, and forecasts an uphill battle for the Xi government.

Platform kinship and the reshaping of political order in the Somali territories

Abstract Numerous studies show that digital technologies facilitate diaspora engagement in homeland affairs. However, communities in home countries also adapt digital platforms to harness diasporic support and drive socio-political change. Despite a rich literature on ‘digital kinship’, there remains a limited understanding of kinship's broader political and developmental impact, especially in (post)conflict regions. This article draws on fieldwork in the Somali territories to argue that a distinctive model of governance, platform kinship, is emerging as an alternative to existing state and international development programmes. Focusing on WhatsApp, it highlights how the platform's specific features are adapted to Somali segmentary clan structures, enabling kinship groups to bridge digital divides, preserve oral traditions and uphold egalitarian principles. Platform kinship has state-like effects. Through an ecosystem of WhatsApp groups, geographically dispersed kin mediate disputes, coordinate development projects, fund political campaigns, and respond to conflicts and crises. However, it also empowers new actors, including youth, politicians and business elites, while marginalizing elders. Furthermore, because platform kinship strengthens the clan as the central political unit, it can deepen divisions between kinship groups and undermine state-building projects and conceptions of national identity. This has important implications for policy-makers and academics working on digital governance, development and peacebuilding.

Diaspora and development: The IOM's role in diaspora mapping in Bosnia and Herzegovina

AbstractDiaspora governance strategies are part of an increasingly vibrant academic and policy debate. International organisations play a significant role in promoting diaspora institutions, collaborating with home states, diaspora communities, and other stakeholders. In post‐conflict states, the involvement, and evolving roles of international organisations, among a variety of actors in diaspora institution building, is implicit but has been underresearched. This article analyses a diaspora mapping exercise led by the IOM to demonstrate how an institutional logics perspective can help to better understand how such processes unfold. Taking an organisational perspective, it sheds light on the interplay among international organisations, state agencies, local government, and individual actors in diaspora and development. By focusing on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the study offers insights into the challenges and opportunities in diaspora engagement in post‐conflict countries. It underscores the need for further research and the long‐term implications of international organisations' efforts in diaspora development programs and diaspora governance.

Unrevealed diaspora force? Diaspora education as a source of diaspora identity politics in Lithuania

ABSTRACT Education is a staple in the nation-building process. Therefore, diaspora education is among the main diaspora policy directions in many European states. However, it has been greatly overlooked in diaspora policy studies, as the diaspora policies and institutions are mostly examined from the perspective of the political and economic inclusion of the diaspora. This paper aims to discuss the role of education in diaspora policy studies and diaspora identity politics in Lithuania. This study investigates how the state of origin practices its education policy as a part of identity politics and the diaspora engagement and governance process. The analysis is fostered by the case study of the diaspora education politics in the Republic of Lithuania as an example of an emigration state. The study presents three main groups of mechanisms of using diaspora education for national identity politics, namely, (1) formal, nonformal and informal education; (2) education as a tool of the returning migration and (3) transnational ties with “young ambassadors.”

Diaspora and Conflict: The Case of Tamils in Germany

While most research on the Tamil diaspora and the conflict in Sri Lanka studies the Tamil diaspora in the United Kingdom and Canada, this article focuses on the role of organized Tamils in Germany. Based on an extensive three years of qualitative field study in Germany and Sri Lanka, and using the theoretical framework of Bercovitch's (2007) conflict cycle, I analyzed the engagement of the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka in three phases of the conflict: conflict emergence before the war (until 1983), conflict escalation and the war (1983–2009), and post-conflict reconstruction after the war (from 2009). In each of these phases, they took different positions toward the conflict. Before the war, German Tamil organizations were reluctant to get involved in the conflict. During the war, some Tamil diaspora organizations in Germany were involved in the war to a minor degree by their active membership and political participation in larger umbrella organizations initiated by the Tamil militant organization called Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The larger part of the diaspora focused on self-initiated and independent social development projects in Sri Lanka. After the LTTE lost the war, the second generation of Tamils took over leadership positions in the diaspora in Germany and focused on new social and health projects in Sri Lanka.

A Contemporary Approach to Designing and Implementing Electronic Voting Systems (EVS)

This study delves into the potential of Electronic Voting Systems (EVS) in Ghana, to enhance transparent and trustworthy electoral processes. We presented a comprehensive framework highlighting trust, diaspora engagement, and human factors in voting. The study proposes a robust EVS framework for Ghana, emphasizing trust and accountability, preventing electoral fraud, and encouraging African governments to invest in IT and collaborate with experts in e-government and e-voting systems. We commence with a detailed systems analysis, identifying specific electoral challenges in Ghana. An artifact is designed and developed, and the artifact's effectiveness is demonstrated through Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM). We evaluated its alignment with the desired solution for Ghana's electoral issues. We emphasize the potential of EVS to address electoral challenges in Ghana and underscore the importance of proactive government policies, IT investments, and collaboration with IT experts. User acceptance testing achieved a remarkable 98% approval rate, showcasing the feasibility of implementing EVS at the national level. This research underlines the pivotal role of EVS in Ghana and advocates for visionary government policies and investments in IT. These measures can modernize electoral systems, align them with international standards, and promote democratic progress while preventing electoral fraud in Ghana and other African nations to avoid condemnation and punishment of unconstitutional transfers of power that are being challenged by meticulously planned takeovers.

Fijian Diaspora Engagement: Between Willingness and Wariness

Fijian Diaspora Engagement: Between Willingness and Wariness

Hordes of Struggling African Youths will Continue to Migrate En Masse to Developed Countries: The Political Economy of “Japa” from Nigeria to the United Kingdom (2015-2023)

This study explores the mass emigration from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as ‘Japa,’ and its implications for Nigeria’s political economy. The research employs a documentary method, analysing secondary data sources through qualitative content analysis. The study is grounded in the push-pull theory, which posits that adverse conditions in Nigeria act as ‘push’ factors, driving individuals to seek better opportunities abroad, the ‘pull’ factors. The findings reveal that unemployment, and uncertainty about Nigeria’s economic and political future are significant push factors fueling the mass exodus of Nigerians to the UK. The brain drain associated with this phenomenon has profoundly impacted Nigeria’s political economy, resulting in the depletion of skilled labour, loss of human capital, reduced productivity, and stagnated innovation. Furthermore, the study highlights the economic implications, including diminished GDP contributions, diversion of funds for medical tourism, and loss of educational investments. The research recommends economic diversification, job creation, enhanced governance, political stability, investment in education and infrastructure, incentives for skilled professionals, diaspora engagement, and international cooperation to mitigate the challenges of mass migration and brain drain. These strategies aim to address the root causes of emigration and facilitate brain gain.

Digital Diplomacy in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Globally, digital diplomacy is taking over as the dominating format. As long as Africa is a part of the globalization era, it must adapt to new technologies. However, there are several obstacles that African digital diplomacy must overcome, such as a lack of infrastructure, a lack of proficiency with new technologies, limiting regulations, the anonymity issue and others. So, with the proliferation of digital technologies, Africa is facing growing cyber security threats. These include hacker attacks, online fraud and disinformation campaigns. Weak cyber security measures and limited capacity to address these challenges make African countries vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Africa should follow the present realities and dynamics in digital diplomacy as the world constantly changes and transitions. In fact, in the diplomatic sphere of Africa, digital diplomacy is being practiced without the concept and practice promoted. However, Africa has many opportunities to embrace digital diplomatic initiatives. The primary ones include; the penetration of the internet, the rise in the public interest, the engagement of the African diaspora, the African Union’s digital strategy, the desire to create an intelligent society, and the revolution of smartphones. Africa also offers much potential for improving the natural and human resources used in digital platform infrastructure. Thus, Africa should assist in developing the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and encouraging training for these electronic platforms. Therefore, the paper aims to analyze the opportunities, challenges, and potentials of digital diplomacy in the African context. To do so, a qualitative research approach was used collected from secondary sources and document analysis. Finally, the collected data is thematically analyzed.

STRATEGY "UZBEKISTAN - 2030": WAYS TO SUPPORT COMPATRIOTS LIVING ABROAD

This article examines the implications and strategies outlined in Uzbekistan's "Strategy-2030" for engaging with its diaspora. The comprehensive analysis covers the diverse contributions of the diaspora in economic, social, human, and cultural sectors, aligning with key principles identified in diaspora engagement policies. The study applauds the multifaceted approach of the strategy and offers recommendations for institutionalizing diaspora participation, unifying definitions, and establishing discussion platforms to foster practical realization of rights and obligations. The "Strategy-2030" is seen as a pivotal step, creating a foundation for long-term cooperation and mutual understanding between Uzbekistan and its compatriots abroad.

Diaspora and Homeland Trajectories: Fostering Bosnia and Herzegovina\'s Progress through Diaspora Engagement

Diaspora and Homeland Trajectories: Fostering Bosnia and Herzegovina\'s Progress through Diaspora Engagement

Medical Diaspora Engagement during Conflicts

Medical Diaspora Engagement during Conflicts

Administering Diaspora: Complexity and Innovation in the Emigrant Policies of Latin America and the Caribbean – A Learning Opportunity for the Global North?

Diaspora engagement policies are an area of migration policy which tends to be neglected in countries of the Global North. Specifically, the configuration of public administration agencies behind diaspora policies has been treated superficially in comparative analyses. Epistemic communities have created a narrative that diaspora policies are mostly a form of window dressing. Using original data, this article compares the configurations of agencies that design and implement diaspora policies across 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, a particularly innovative region in this policy area. It argues that the Global North misses a learning opportunity in overlooking their complexity.

Diaspora engagement and return migration for educational purposes in Estonia and Kazakhstan

Purpose This study examines diaspora engagement and return migration programs aimed at providing diaspora youth with an opportunity to obtain higher education in Estonia and Kazakhstan. In particular, the authors sought to identify the main motivations, benefits and challenges of the programs, as well as understand how the programs contribute to the ethnic identity formation of diaspora students.Design/methodology/approach The paper employed a qualitative multiple-case study research design. In both countries, data were collected by means of 26 semi-structured interviews with return migrant students and experts involved in implementing the programs.Findings The study findings suggest that the primary motivations for diaspora youth to return to their homelands are tuition-free higher education, financial support and repatriation prospects in both countries. In Estonia, the scholarship holders struggled with language requirements for university admissions, the cost of living insufficiently covered by the monthly stipend and limited integration opportunities. In Kazakhstan, the students had to face the Russian language barrier and socio-cultural marginalization in their everyday life. It was also found that the return migrant students in Estonia and Kazakhstan develop hybrid identities to integrate into their domestic society. They reinforce their ethnic identities and negotiate their diasporic identities to make sense of their own background and cultural heritage and acclimatize to life in the new context.Originality/value The study provides practical implications for policy implementers and policymakers in Estonia and Kazakhstan. It can also be useful for the worldwide research community interested in exploring education-oriented diaspora engagement and return migration programs and their influence on the ethnic identity of diaspora students.

Dual‐facing bridges and brokers: Diaspora politics and Chinese voluntary associations

This commentary introduces the term ‘dual facing’ to describe the way that Chinese voluntary associations orientate themselves as collectives situated between the ancestral land (China) and their countries of settlement. The commentary uses examples of Chinese voluntary associations in Singapore and Myanmar to reflect on China's longstanding presence and expanding reach in Southeast Asia, including through its diaspora engagement with the Chinese abroad. It argues that such associations are embedded not only in the nation‐building efforts of their countries of settlement, but also the ancestral land. However, this dual‐facing orientation also means that they can become embroiled in conflictual domestic and foreign politics at both ends, potentially jeopardising how they are otherwise seen as bridges and brokers by China and in the countries where have settled.

Developed Country Diaspora Strategy Framework

Abstract As developed countries become more and more interested in implementing diaspora strategies, this article reviews relevant literature for diaspora strategy design and implementation and distils elements of existing typologies into a conceptual framework for evaluating developed country diaspora strategies. The framework is then applied to the evaluation of the diaspora policies of Ireland and Australia, which emerge as examples of engaged versus passive states in relation to their diasporas. Interviews with diaspora engagement practitioners are used to elucidate the policies and practices that underpin diaspora engagement strategies in these countries. The resulting analysis has implications for theorising diaspora engagement and offers practical lessons for other countries looking to connect with their diasporas.