The ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ Movement that started in 2022 in Iran brought another wave of women’s rights movement. The involvement of Iranian diaspora communities in cyberspace successfully...Show moreThe ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ Movement that started in 2022 in Iran brought another wave of women’s rights movement. The involvement of Iranian diaspora communities in cyberspace successfully transformed this movement into the online sphere. This paper seeks to answer the following research questions: How do Iranian diaspora communities construct identity through cyberfeminism in the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement? The paper aims to explore the effectiveness of cyberfeminism and more importantly, it aims to identity the role of X and diasporic websites in constructing Iranian diaspora’s identity through an inductive approach. Frame theory is utilized as a lens to examine how Iranian diasporas frame themselves in the cyberspace and make connections between those inside and outside Iran. This paper finds three framing strategies, namely: identification of common enemies, victimization, and empowerment of women that contribute to forming a collective identity within diasporas.Show less
This paper asks how co-ethnic hierarchy informs the formulation and implementation of South Korean official policies on diaspora return migration. While prior Diaspora Engagement Policy (DEP)...Show moreThis paper asks how co-ethnic hierarchy informs the formulation and implementation of South Korean official policies on diaspora return migration. While prior Diaspora Engagement Policy (DEP) research often observed preference for diaspora members over other immigrants, this paper expands the literature on DEP by considering South Korea’s preference for certain co-ethnic groups over other within diaspora. The analysis includes the three largest Korean diaspora groups: the Korean-Chinese, Koryoin, and Korean-Americans. First, by conducting a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of laws, this paper examines presence of a co-ethnic hierarchy in formulated return migration policies. Second, an exploration of diaspora groups’ eligibility for Overseas Korea visas reveals how co-ethnic hierarchy informs implemented return migration policies. Although there is no explicit differential treatment between diaspora groups in formulated policies since 2004, there is an apparent co-ethnic hierarchy in visa regulation. Implicit language found in legal textual policies confirms that the South Korean government regulates return migration of its diaspora according to a hierarchical order.Show less
This thesis examines the contribution of the Moroccan Diaspora to the development of Morocco, focusing on factors beyond economic remittances. Provided that economic remittances have received large...Show moreThis thesis examines the contribution of the Moroccan Diaspora to the development of Morocco, focusing on factors beyond economic remittances. Provided that economic remittances have received large attention from academia, this work aims to narrow the research gap by looking at other factors influencing the developmental potential of Moroccan migration, including “brain drain” (highly skilled human capital flight), the Moroccan government’s ‘Diaspora engagement policy’, and the case study of Moroccans in the Netherlands. The thesis draws upon a mix of primary and secondary sources to emphasise the active role of the Moroccan government in maximising the developmental potential of migration through a comprehensive Diaspora engagement policy. Continuing, it discusses the role of economic remittances on the development of housing, which has triggered economic growth and the emergence of new urban centres in historically isolated regions of Morocco, thus, raising living standards and expanding educational opportunities in rural areas of Morocco. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that Morocco is taking serious steps towards reducing the negative effects of the “brain drain” through programmes specifically aimed at increasing cooperation with and incentivizing the return of highly skilled Moroccan migrants. By exploring the implications of Moroccan migration beyond economic remittances, this thesis provides an overall picture of the various migration-related factors at play in the development of Morocco. It aims to highlight the significance of other factors often overshadowed by an overwhelmingly large focus on economic remittances alone in academia.Show less
This research paper will focus on the research question: What role does the Afghan Diaspora play in humanitarian assistance within Afghanistan? Afghanistan humanitarian crisis in one of the worst...Show moreThis research paper will focus on the research question: What role does the Afghan Diaspora play in humanitarian assistance within Afghanistan? Afghanistan humanitarian crisis in one of the worst worldwide, with over 90% of the population living on the poverty line. Due to the country's political shift, this research is relevant to understand the current dynamics of Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. This paper uses a qualitative approach to researching the humanitarian assistance of the Afghan Diaspora due to a lack of funding, time, and the inability to collect primary data. This paper highlights that the Afghan Diaspora has a strong connection to their home country, which is displayed in their actions to fight of the humanitarian crisis. This paper highlights three main ways in which the Diaspora is able to assist, which are remittances, online activism and Afghan led NGOs. The Afghan Diaspora has a significant role in the humanitarian crisis, as remittances made up to 4.1% of the countries GDP. NGOs provided crucial safe places and distributed humanitarian aid, and the Afghan Diaspora forms in the online space a Digital Diaspora which organizes themselves, collect funds and spreads awareness about the humanitarian crisis. However, the Diasporas influence is limited, as the current political leaders in Afghanistan are the Taliban. The Taliban worsen the humanitarian crisis for the whole population to their own benefit, and are unaffected by the Diasporas opinions, or efforts, as they govern the country with their own ideology Thus, the current role of the Afghan Diaspora is mainly to inform and spread awareness, provide humanitarian aid, and organize themselves in NGOs to support their people.Show less
Leaving one’s home is never an easy undertaking. Whether having left voluntarily or not, migrants face various challenges in their new host states. Many rely on their co-nationals and diaspora...Show moreLeaving one’s home is never an easy undertaking. Whether having left voluntarily or not, migrants face various challenges in their new host states. Many rely on their co-nationals and diaspora communities to remain connected to their homeland and to navigate their new host countries. One way to remain connected to the home country are joking relationships. Prevalent in West African states, joking relationships or cousinage assume make-believe family ties, which in turn allow people to jokingly insult their “cousins”. Commonly known as traditional conflict resolution techniques, these relationships play important roles in people’s everyday life. This thesis investigates the impact that cousinage has on the community of the Senegalese diaspora in Germany, as well as the question whether diaspora activity and involvement can facilitate integration. In the course of this thesis, an in-depth case study of the Senegalese diaspora in Germany was conducted, for which 28 members of the diaspora were interviewed. The research found that joking relationships are a way for the diaspora to create community feeling based on ethnic and national identities. Furthermore, the thesis shows that diaspora involvement facilitates the integration process of migrants by offering active support.Show less
Despite being one of the most protracted and ongoing territorial disputes, as a case of irredentism the Western Sahara conflict has only incidentally enjoyed international attention. The...Show moreDespite being one of the most protracted and ongoing territorial disputes, as a case of irredentism the Western Sahara conflict has only incidentally enjoyed international attention. The opportunity to step into the vacuum of international news coverage and information provision about this disputed territory, however, has recently been seized. The media platform of the state-sponsored ‘Council of the Moroccan Community living abroad’, as the name suggests, has targeted the Moroccan diaspora with online content about the Western Sahara in recent years. While studies of irredentism have focused on the importance of nationalism in arousing support for irredentism among the nation, the role of irredentism in the construction of national identity has received little attention. Through the empirical analysis of this media content, this paper unravels the argumentation behind the Moroccan state’s irredentist claims in its communication to the diaspora and demonstrates that they are rooted in a state-informed national identity construct, a construct to which the Western Sahara as irredentist project in turn plays a contributing role. On the basis of this construct, I point out that in addition to being of interest as potential support base for advancing the Moroccan state’s irredentist cause in the Western Sahara, it is likely that the Moroccan diaspora is also reached out to in this regard for the purpose of bolstering the idea of a monarch(y)-centred national identity.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
open access
Diaspora is an interesting, unique ,and widespread phenomenon, always bringing into question ideas of culture, identity and belonging. The Indian Diaspora is one of the largest in the world, and...Show moreDiaspora is an interesting, unique ,and widespread phenomenon, always bringing into question ideas of culture, identity and belonging. The Indian Diaspora is one of the largest in the world, and has been extensively researched. However, in both daily conversation and in academic literature, there seems to be a surprising relative lack of knowledge on the Indian Diaspora of East Africa, this is bewildering given its intrigue and importance in the region. Equally under emphasised are the cultural roles and experiences of women, often seen as symbols and carriers of culture; through dress, family making, cooking, ideas of honour and more. Diasporas often have a tendency towards remaining conservative, while the homeland often evolves, as a way to hold on to tradition and identity. This has changed in recent decades, either in the direction of new more modern ideas or blended identities with an even further drive to traditionalism by the contemporary generation. These various trajectories will be included in this paper.Show less
Abstract: Previous literature on the role of food in the diaspora indicates that social groups communicate their identity to outsiders through culinary culture and traditional recipes. What food is...Show moreAbstract: Previous literature on the role of food in the diaspora indicates that social groups communicate their identity to outsiders through culinary culture and traditional recipes. What food is produced, how it is cooked and with what available ingredients it is prepared has extremely meaningful cultural implications, especially in circumstances of migration, hardship and loss. Social media, however, has profoundly blurred the boundaries of knowledge implicit to social groups and “followers” who do not belong to the community, but who still consume food content online. In a way, social media has brought the traditionally domestic practice of food culture onto a public platform. On this platform, exclusion and praise have faced diaspora communities in relation to their cuisine in the food influencer community. Publicity, sponsorship and an international audience have changed how the Palestinian diaspora relates to its identity-marking food practices.Show less
O presente trabalho trata do tema feminismo negro no Brasil e compara a obra de uma artista literária e de uma artista visual utilizando o conceito ‘lugar de fala’ da intelectual, ativista e...Show moreO presente trabalho trata do tema feminismo negro no Brasil e compara a obra de uma artista literária e de uma artista visual utilizando o conceito ‘lugar de fala’ da intelectual, ativista e escritora Djamila Ribeiro (1980, Santos). Apesar de avanços significativos no ativismo afro-brasileiro e feminista, a questão do lugar social da mulher afro-brasileira fica sendo um ponto atual e pertinente. Conceição Evaristo, escritora afro-brasileira, e Rosana Paulino, artista brasileira contemporânea, conseguiram uma visibilidade, inclusive internacional, usando um discurso feminista negro, apesar de viverem numa sociedade extremamente autoritária, racista e patriarcal. Para estudar o ativismo artístico que ambas produzem, a presente pesquisa se enfoca na obra literária Poemas da recordação e outros movimentos (2008) e na exposição A costura da memória (2018). Ambas obras, de maneira crítica, questionam o lugar da mulher negra na sociedade brasileira. Conceição Evaristo é conhecida pelas publicações em Cadernos Negros e da escrevivência. Rosana Paulino é artista visual e se enfoca nas questões sociais, étnicas e de gênero (Paulino). O estudo de caso é original, pois, acrescenta ao debate o uso do conceito lugar de fala, proposto por Djamila Ribeiro. Além disso, o estudo é altamente atual: a situação política no Brasil exige a importância de entender essas vozes. Portanto, o objetivo desse estudo é analisar como ambas artistas através do uso do conceito da memória se apropriam de um ‘lugar de fala’ para o sujeito feminino negro e criticamente questionam estruturas de poder existentes.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Film- en literatuurwetenschap (BA)
closed access
Deze scriptie bespreekt hoe Adichie een zwart, vrouwelijk perspectief biedt op gebeurtenissen in de roman, gekoppeld aan racisme, gender en klasse. Door middel van de hoofdpersoon Ifemelu worden er...Show moreDeze scriptie bespreekt hoe Adichie een zwart, vrouwelijk perspectief biedt op gebeurtenissen in de roman, gekoppeld aan racisme, gender en klasse. Door middel van de hoofdpersoon Ifemelu worden er tegengeluiden tegen heersende stereotypen in de roman besproken.Show less
People of African descent in the West share a similar experience of oppression through European colonization and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Such a shared experience has led to a transnational...Show morePeople of African descent in the West share a similar experience of oppression through European colonization and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Such a shared experience has led to a transnational black consciousness. The black scholars W.E.B. DuBois and Frantz Fanon both discussed this concept, which describes an the existence of transnational black solidarity and identity, due to the subjugation to oppression. The black race has become the subject of negative discourses, a product of white supremacy and western hegemony. This thesis is a postcolonial reading of the artworks of black American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Black British artist Chris Ofili, through which we explore the transnational connection among the peoples of the African diaspora. With the use of semiotic analysis, we uncover the hidden meanings within Basquiat’s and Ofili’s work, analyzing the themes of being black in the West and being black in connection to the African diaspora.Show less
This paper investigates the relationship between national and religious identities within the context of the Christian Orthodox community of New Orleans in the second half of the nineteenth century...Show moreThis paper investigates the relationship between national and religious identities within the context of the Christian Orthodox community of New Orleans in the second half of the nineteenth century. Against past conceptions relegating the importance of religious identity, it is argued that "religio-national symbiosis" or a harmonious, equal co-existence between national and religious identities was possible. This new concept allows us to regard this relationship with new eyes, away from modernist assumptions of the past.Show less
This thesis studies how the Russian leadership securitised the compatriots during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. To this end, the thesis delves into the historical precedents and the political...Show moreThis thesis studies how the Russian leadership securitised the compatriots during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. To this end, the thesis delves into the historical precedents and the political discourse that shaped the securitisation of the Russian-speaking diaspora in the former Soviet republics. Through primary sources, this thesis presents a deconstruction of the recurrent themes in the political discourse, the security apparatus as well as the securitisation process with the help of the securitisation theory. The analysis of the materials studied shows that the compatriots have become a geopolitical tool for Russia when several favourable circumstances align, which allow the Kremlin to overstep the rules of ordinary politics into the realm of extraordinary measures. The compatriots have become an important asset in Russian foreign policy and, by extension, a potential security threat since they are considered Russian citizens whose identity and rights must be protected even when they are outside of Russia.Show less
The thesis has sought to shed light into the relationship between the Jewish Diaspora and Israel through the lenses of the Brazilian Jewish community. Due to the fact that it holds the largest...Show moreThe thesis has sought to shed light into the relationship between the Jewish Diaspora and Israel through the lenses of the Brazilian Jewish community. Due to the fact that it holds the largest Jewish population of Brazil and hosts numerous prominent Jewish organisations, the state of São Paulo was chosen as the case study of the research. Based on the analysis of publications and websites of those institutions and, mainly, of interviews with the most important leaders of the Jewish organisations in São Paulo, the author has tried to bring to the fore their chief activities concerning Israel. Furthermore, the conduction of semi-structured interviews enabled the identification of attitudes and perceptions of the main Jewish Brazilian leaders towards Israel, as well as their role as members of a significant Jewish Diaspora. Central political issues that affect Israel, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, were also analysed by the leaders of the most prominent Jewish institutions. The relevance of the research lies in the fact that it touches upon issues of long-distance nationalism, collective identity and Diaspora politics from a standpoint that is not sufficiently explored by the contemporary academia.Show less
This research analyzes the experiences of transnational identity formation by Cuban-American migrant generations, cohorts and waves living in Miami, as well their cultural behaviours in Miami. The...Show moreThis research analyzes the experiences of transnational identity formation by Cuban-American migrant generations, cohorts and waves living in Miami, as well their cultural behaviours in Miami. The research is framed with reference to historical and contemporary contexts of the bilateral relations between Cuba and the United States.Show less
In 1940, Tenzin Gyatso was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet. During that time, Tibet was still a quiet area without any Chinese influences. Tenzin was 5 years old back then, but was...Show moreIn 1940, Tenzin Gyatso was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet. During that time, Tibet was still a quiet area without any Chinese influences. Tenzin was 5 years old back then, but was treated with respect. The Dalai Lama is considered the highest authority, the spiritual and political leader by the Tibetans. A regent took over the governing tasks until the Dalai Lama was 18 years old. Meanwhile, in neighbouring China, something happened that drastically changed the calm situation in Tibet. In 1949, Mao Zedong comes to power in China and the Chinese republic’s days are numbered. Mao founds the People’s Republic of China on the first of October that year and China becomes a communist state; a state in which people are ‘raised’ to think and live according to communist manners. In the political field there is only one party possessing all power. Mao organizes the Chinese People’s Liberation Army - known as ‘the Red Army’. The Red Army enters Tibet in October 1950 and does not fear the Tibetan army’s resistance, as it is much smaller and poorly armed. The government of Tibet gives all the power to the Dalai Lama, who is 15 years old at that time. China decides that Tibet is an integral part of China now and gives the Dalai Lama a position in the Chinese government, in which he has little to nothing to say. This is considered the start of the Chinese oppression. During the Tibetan New Year in 1959, riots break out and the Tibetans massively protest against Chinese domination. The Chinese react to the protest by killing thousands of Tibetans; already 87,000 people are killed in the Lhasa region only. Villages and monasteries are burned down and the Tibetan government is dissolved. The Dalai Lama flees to Dharamsala, India, where he forms a government in exile. After this incident, more than 7,000 Tibetans cross the border and ask for political asylum in India. The diaspora of Tibetans and religious leaders leads to a spread of Tibetan Buddhism around the world, with the Dalai Lama’s influence not only limited to the community in Dharamsala. Other influential tulkus and lamas (such as Kaly Rinpoche, Ole Nydahl, Chogyam Trungpa and Khenchen Palden Sherab) found Tibetan monasteries in all parts of the world. In 1998, according to the Tibetan Planning Council, 111.170 Tibetans were living in exile (85,000 in India). A government in exile was formed just like other kinds of Tibetan institutes. This research study focuses on the role of the 14th Dalai Lama in the Tibetan communities in exile. In more detail, it provides the reader with an insight into the changes the Dalai Lama has undergone from political- to only spiritual leader and points out his primary concerns for the Tibetan communities. In addition, research on China’s role in the influence of the Dalai Lama is carried out. A final conclusion will link existing literature and give an answer to the main question by inserting my own interpretations. A study on this subject, furthermore, helps to better understand the Tibetan diaspora around the world and China’s role in the story today. This thesis consists of books from the Leiden University Library, focusing on the current Dalai Lama and Tibetan communities in exile and journals from different disciplines, such as sinology, anthropology, sociology, politics and religious studies.Show less
