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Diaspora as an instance of transnational governance

Abstract

This project focuses those transnational civil society organizations and networks, created by diasporan populations residing in western states that function not only as a substantial means of integration in their residing societies, but also as genuine transnational institutions that aim in, in one way or another, to affect the politics of their former homelands, especially in the direction of democracy, promotion of the human rights, gender equality and peace settlement with non-violent means. In this regard, this study considers diaspora as an instance of transnational governance.

Keywords:

Diaspora, Governance , Transnational

Description

Diasporic and transnational organizations that appear more often than not in the form of ethnic and cultural associations, social and professional institutions and networks of personalities and celebrities in various political and cultural fields enable diasporan populations to cross the borders of two or more nation-states; a situation that brings about the intersection of the political, legal and juridical systems of their new and old societies. As an empirical venture, this project intends to see how diasporan populations - largely influenced by the democratic contexts of their residing states- make use of their professional organizations, cultural associations, social networks, personalities and celebrities, social media, satellite TV-stationer and lobby networks and initiate political demonstrations in order to, in the first place challenge the non-democratic/less-democratic and corrupted political institutions of their societies of origin and affect them in the direction of political reforms where social inclusion, general welfare, labor legislation, trade-union activities, freedom of speech, gender equality, and other basic human rights constitute new dimensions of diaspora discourse and diaspora organization. In this respect, diasporan populations act as an instance of transnational governance as they live their lives across the borders of two or more nation-states, participate in the normative regime, legal and institutional system and political practices of these various states and acting on a relationship to more than one government.
The process of globalization, the increase in numbers of diasporan populations and transnational social movements and the expansion of non-governmental organizations have together with transnational capital and corporations generated considerable interest in global governance and the role of civil society at the global and transnational level. Even though, there are certain pessimistic interpretations that view transnational civil society as a neo-liberal construction that helps to maintain the current ?unequal? global order there are other scholars who believe that global civil society which operates at a transnational social field at the intersection of several nation-states should be seen as an influential human resource for the regulation of different global flows. As a result, civil society and diaspora become two interconnected notions and diasporan groups become as one of the central components of the global civil society As diasporan groups take interest in conflict and peace-building efforts and political confrontations in their societies of origin, they should be seen not only as significant peace contributors in the study of global civil society but also as promoters of transnational governance as they participate in the political processes, normative regimes, legal, juridical and institutional systems of both their new and old societies.


2010 - 2012

Funding

FAS/FORTE Research environment funding

REMESO Project Leader

Khalid Khayati, Postdoctor fellow

Contact for project

khalid.khayati@liu.se


Last updated: 2011-04-23



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Last updated: 2020-05-27