The Impact of Diasporas: Connection, Contestation, Convergence

About this series

Convened by Alan Gamlen, Nicholas Van Hear and Robin Cohen

Arising from flight to escape violent conflict or from migration for betterment, diasporas are among the most prominent and controversial manifestations of increased globalization. Few communities now seem unbound from their distant members and this connectivity has significant consequences for the world order. 

In a research proposal submitted to the Leverhulme Trust for the Oxford Diasporas Programme, we identify three fundamental dynamics that animate the formation of diasporas and shape their impacts – connectedness, contestation and convergence. 

Our aim in the research programme and in this associated seminar series is to investigate through comparative examples the social, economic, political and cultural impacts of diaspora:  what are these impacts; why, how, where and when do particular impacts arise; and who initiates and experiences these impacts?

Programme

21 January

Diasporas engaged, diasporas deployed 
Nicholas Van Hear  

28 January

Rights in diaspora, impacts at home: portable voting and pension entitlements
Alan Gamlen

4 February

Filming diaspora: Jews and Italians in New York City 
Robin Cohen

11 February

Local citizenship, diaspora belonging: associational politics, faith and settlements in 20th century London 
Jane Garnett, Ben Gidley, Alana Harris and Michael Keith

18 February

Youth, economic change and diaspora-local relations
Linda McDowell
Multinational families, creolized practices and new identities:  Euro-Senegalese cases 
Helene Neveu Kringelbach

25 February

Diasporas of khat: chewing in transnational space
David Anderson and Neil Carrier:

4 March

Hadrami diasporas: the Indian Ocean glue?
Iain Walker
African diasporas in Africa: oxymoron or lacuna?
Oliver Bakewell

11 March

Perspectives on memory, mobility and cultural identities: the lusophone case
Luisa Pinto Teixeira
Diaspora and security: challenges for governance
Alex Betts

18 March

Discussion: The Impact of Diasporas
Led by Robin Cohen, Nicholas Van Hear and Alan