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Diasporas Get Networked: The Assyrian Diaspora's Tactics and Strategies through Transnational Advocacy Networks
Abstract
Existing literature on diaspora often contends that small diaspora groups may not be politically influential if they lack access to power or resources (Smith & Stares, 2007; Collier & Hoeffler, 2001). More specifically, Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler (2001) argue that resources are associated with the size and location of the diaspora. This is partly because early discussions of diaspora were primarily concerned with “paradigmatic” cases, such as that of the Jewish diaspora, “or small number of core cases,” such as the Armenian and the Greek diaspora (Brubaker, 2005, p. 2). These assumptions form the basis of this mémoire, and while true to some extent, the authors fail to recognize the extent to which small diaspora groups may exercise political influence on domestic or international policies that affect their members, through transnational advocacy networks (TANs). This study explores the thesis that small diaspora groups, such as the Assyrian diaspora, may exert political influence either through existing TANs or by creating Assyrian TANs. This research tests the hypothesis using Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink's (1998) four tactics and strategies of TANs: information politics, symbolic politics, leverage politics and accountability politics. Moreover, this study attempts to analyze the extent to which the Assyrian diaspora elicits political influence on domestic and international policies that affect their groups in Sweden and the United States after the liberation of Iraq in 2003. Scholarly literatures on TANs are well established; however, the literature pertaining to the relationship between diaspora and TANs is lacking. This study aims to address the lacuna in the literatures in order to highlight that the Assyrian diaspora groups could potentially yield success through development of TANs. The goal is to provide essential qualities to successful TANs, with the aim to cohesively assemble the information on TAN strategies and tactics and bring them parallel to the Assyrian diaspora experience. This paper should be treated as a conceptual framework for small diaspora groups, and also to contribute to the Assyrian diaspora literature which remains underdeveloped. The study looks at specific circumstances where the Assyrians in diaspora were involved in influencing domestic and international policy, how they operated, and what lessons can be learned from their efforts. Results presented in this study support the hypothesis that diaspora groups, such as the one undertaken in this study, are important political actors who can influence both host land and homeland policies that concerns them.
Discipline
Business & Public Administration
Geographic Area
Iraq
Sub Area
Diaspora/Refugee Studies