Diaspora Politics
How communities of migrants and their descendants influence the politics of both their home and host countries, from remittances and lobbying to dual citizenship and transnational identity.
Diaspora Influence
Diaspora communities, people living outside their country of origin who maintain connections to it, are significant political and economic actors in international relations. The Indian diaspora, numbering over 18 million, is the world's largest and wields considerable influence in countries like the US and UK. The Chinese diaspora, the Jewish diaspora, the Lebanese diaspora, and the Nigerian diaspora all play outsized roles in trade, investment, and political advocacy.
Diaspora politics operates through multiple channels. Remittances, money sent home by migrants, totaled over $650 billion to developing countries in 2022, exceeding foreign direct investment and official development assistance combined. Diaspora lobbying influences foreign policy: the Armenian American community's advocacy for genocide recognition, the Cuban American community's influence on US Cuba policy, and the Israeli diaspora's role in US Middle East policy all demonstrate how diaspora politics shapes host country foreign policy.
