Diaspora

Originating from ancient Greek and meaning dispersion, the term diaspora traditionally was associated with the Jews to describe their traumatic uprooting from ancient Israel, their forced exile throughout the world, their feelings of alienation in the host countries, their collective memory of their homeland, and their desire to return home. The Greeks and Armenians constituted two other examples of archetypal diasporas. These diasporic communities are generally characterized by a high level of ethnic organization in their host countries that usually includes cultural associations, political parties, schools, and other institutions with the goal of preserving a group identity.

However, with the emergence of globalization, the term diaspora has been used more widely. At the same time, there was a reconceptualization of the term to encompass phenomena of increased international population mobility unleashed by globalization such as[Page 107] augmented emigration to the developed countries, the telecommunication and transportation revolution, and the development of a cosmopolitan global culture. In this context, the 1980s and 1990s witnessed increased interest in the phenomenon of diaspora, and minorities whose experiences met the classical diaspora paradigm only in part began to be called diasporas, thereby blurring the lines among ethnic minorities, refugee flows, migrations, and diaspora. Moreover, the media's use of the term diaspora has played a significant role in ascribing new meaning to the notion of diaspora, including a so-called rock-and-roll diaspora and a soccer player diaspora.

Most contemporary scholars conceive diaspora broadly, arguing that even classical diasporas, such as that of the Jews, are socially constructed. These authors stress that diasporic identities are not innate; rather, they arise from the complex relationship among an ethnic minority, its host state, and its homeland. This understanding of diaspora opens the door to understanding the contemporary rise of complex multiple ethnic and national identities that various individuals or groups of people display.

Central to an understanding of diaspora is its tenuous position in between the host and home countries. Historically, and stereotypically, the nation-state viewed the diaspora as a threat. Diasporas were perceived as a menace to a host state's organic unity, and they were seen at best as just tolerated minorities who often were abused and forced to assimilate. Also, home states often have been ambivalent toward their diasporas. They perceived their diasporas as not authentic, as impure, and as having a hybrid identity.

However, today the discourse about diasporas has been redefined. Diasporas are now perceived in a much more favorable light, and their influence in shaping both home and host state politics has increased as nation-states realized that they could benefit from diasporas' services. This is because diasporas are, in some instances, better positioned than their host or home countries as transnational actors in a global world. Diasporas are transnational phenomena that escape the integrationist tendency of the nation-states and that continue to manifest dual or multiple national identities and allegiances.