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 Diasporic Identity
The concept of a Diaspora community often refers to a group of people with a shared geographical origin and/or cultural background based on ties to ancestral lands. Some may even add to the equation the time and reason spent abroad, thus to exclude those migrants with a sustenance under e.g. one year in host country or whose purpose of staying is only temporary - and so on...
But what could be more significant is how people conceive themselves as being part of a community living outside their homeland or as a cultural minority group. Hence, it doesn't necessarily incorporates any direct linkages to a place outside where they are living as Diasporas (even though the trace can go generations back, some may still associate with that country, region or culture). One's recognition of him/her self as linked up with a specific Diaspora is therefore very much self-described.
In one and the same place of origin many cultures and groups can exist paralelly, and given that conflicts, rivality and tensions may have widening the gap between these groups, diasporic identity may for some therefor base on group affiliation instead of place (and that place of specific group affiliations may cross administrative borders). In addition, people may have been extended their families through cross-marriages with other nationalities and people whose cultural characteristics may not always coincide with each others. An adoption of a homeland or diasporic group affiliation based on ancestry and past is for some Diasporas therefor a reality.
But how do people with foreign extraction conceive themselves? Do they really identify themselves as connected to a national, ethnic or cultural minority? Well, according to our survey poll below (open for people of foreign background) a significant part of participants do feel- or sometimes feel connected with a national, ethnic or cultural group living in the diaspora. |
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 Share your opinion! Do you identify or feel your self connected to a national, ethnic or cultural community of people living separated from their ancestral homelands?
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The term Diasporas
 originates from the ancient Greek, meaning "a scattering or sowing of seeds". Today, as growing communities of migrants are dispersed across the world, they are referred to as Diasporas - as communities of people separated from their (ancestral) homelands. Diasporas is therefore strongly connected with population movement, or more specifically international migration.
Movements of people is a reality as old as the history of mankind. Growingly, people leave their home lands for greener pastures, thus the number of reasons for emigrating and to seek luck, comfort and protection somewhere else has increased radically. As a result, the world has become a much smaller place as the level of interaction between people is more intensive. In this sense the world can be considered as a "global village", where everyday life is affected by everyone's pasts and steps ahead. The Diasporas stands put here as landmarks as they remind us of the globalized world we live, in and of our joint destiny we share in front of us.
Diasporas do matter
Diasporas do matter and play an important role for both host countries and countries of origin - as already recognized by governments, academic institutions and organizations worldwide. But the capacity of Diasporas and migrants in general is very much ignored, especially in many developed countries. This vicious trend needs to change as it produce not only a large group of people with low potentials to reach decent livelihood. Hence, the economical and social cost for society will remain high just to stabilize the consequences.
As individuals, often with valuable competences, experiences and resources gained from their unique multi-cultural backgrounds, Diasporas (and migrants in general) constitute important bricks for both host countries and countries of origin, as discussed throughout this website. But as to reach the state where to achieve the win-win-win effect where both migrants, host countries and countries of origin gain, both host and origin countries will have to optimize the conditions from where to fully utilize the capacity of Diasporas.
Diasporas as Conflict- & Peace lobbyists
From their life abroad (some people in exile), many people in the diaspora play part in transnational political activities towards influencing policies in countries of origin. From their base in organized Diaspora communities, they can influense policies through dialoge with their governments back home, through their tactical commitment to form- and support oppositions and civil society in countries of origin, but most importantly by creating awarness and opinion in the international community.
Win-Win-Win effect vs. Risks
To utilize the capacity of Diasporas and migrants in general both host countries and countries of origin must optimize the conditions - for them to achieve the win-win-win effect where both migrants, host countries and countries of origin gain. If ignored or just taken as a to-big-risk, the cost for society will raise in unproportional levels as the potential benefits from it will be lost and the economic and social expenses will remain high just to master the consequenses.
To turn this trend around the challenge consists - for political leaders - to reach better understanding how to benefit from migration - which is in fact a still growing global event and just as old as mankind. We need to focus at the longterm effects from migration instead of the immediate, and governments need to realize that the benefits doesn't come without global collaboration and jointly resposibility-taking.
Which are the main barriers opposing this win-win-win effect, and how can we address it? Develop your thoughts in the Discussion Board on the right! |
Raise your Voice
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