Rethinking the role of Diaspora organizations : Diaspora organizations’ contribution to the development and migration policies
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2014-05
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en
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Abstract
Diaspora organizations contributions to migration and development issues are increasingly in the
picture over the last years. Much is written about the migrants double engagement with both the
country of origin as with the country of residence. This transnationalism is among other
operationalized through good communication and transport networks. However, it seems that
involvement of these organizations with other actors is minimal or lacking altogether. This can partly
be explained due to lack of knowledge about the ways Diaspora organizations can contribute to
realizing development goals. In most cases the potential role of Diaspora organizations is limited to
giving general recommendation or is focused upon the economic aspect of development only.
Because of that this research focused upon extracting specific examples of how Diaspora
organizations are active in the field of migration and development, with whom they co-operate or
why co-operation with other actors can be important to improve the migration and development
field. In addition, the issue whether there is a ground for co-operation is discussed, in particular how
this co-operation looks like at the moment and what should be improved to make use of it in its full
potential. The central goal of this research was to specify the role of Diaspora organizations in this
policy field, foremost by highlighting some key issues within this debate. These were;
1. Elaborating the actual knowledge and skills that migrants and Diaspora organizations possess both
focused on host and home society
2. Emphasising the importance of including these skills more within the policy debate in the
Netherlands.
3. Why it is difficult to incorporate these skills into broader migration and development policies.
Because of these objectives this research deals with the following research question:
“Are Diaspora organizations due to their transnational engagement and knowledge important
partners within the policy debate around migration and development focused both upon the
Netherlands as on countries in the Global South?”
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen