Diaspora Politics: At Home Abroad

by Gabriel Sheffer

Overview

This book is about an important cultural-political phenomenon: ethno-national diasporas. While these groups try to "feel at home" in their host countries, they maintain at the same time close contact with their homelands to promote their culture and interests. The book analyzes their continuous struggle to maintain their identity, organize, and fight against all wishing to prevent permanent settlement and integration in the host countries. It discusses the complex questions of the groups' loyalties to their homelands and host countries as well as their contributions to them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521811378
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/10/2003
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.29(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Gabriel Sheffer is Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and editor of The Jerusalem Journal of International Relations. Recipient of the Israeli Prime Minister's Prize for Political Biography, he has advised various Israeli governments. He frequently contributes to Israeli and foreign magazines and quality newspapers. He published extensively on ethno-national diasporas, the Jewish Diaspora, Israeli politics and foreign policy. Among his other authored books, he is the author of Moshe Sharett: Biography of a Political Moderate.

Table of Contents

Preface and acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Primary questions and hypotheses; 2. Diasporism and diasporas in history; 3. A collective portrait of contemporary diasporas; 4. Diasporas in numbers; 5. The making, development, and unmaking of diasporas; 6. Stateless and state-linked diasporas; 7. Trans-state networks and politics; 8. Diasporas, the nation-state and regional integration; 9. Loyalty; 10. Diasporas at home abroad; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Gabriel Sheffer is among the leading figures of this expanding field of research that is diaspora studies...a worldwide known expert. Diaspora Politics represents an important contribution to a field...Sheffer's attempt to define conceptual boundaries and provide tentative classifications is helpful and should be greatly welcomed. [An] insightful and very readable book. Sheffer's volume proves indeed to be an excellent and solid contribution to an expanding field of research and will certainly remain a must read for several years to come." Matteo Fumagalli, School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK, Ethnic and Racial Studies

"...clarifies the core concepts that undergird migration and the diaspora phenomenon. It also outlines an important typology of diasporism. [E]ssential to anyone interested in the dynamics of migration, diaspora, and diasporism. Through his profound analytical insight, deep historical knowledge of diasporas, and fluid prose, Sheffer clearly presents the most salient issues pertaining to migration and diasporism. Diaspora Politics is an authoritative work on diaspora politics; it is rich in substance, innovative in ideas, and replete with references." Georges E. Fouron, SUNY Stony Brook, International Studies Review

"Characterized by a true comparative perspective, the study contrasts with work of the many who claim that perspective but in fact project a model based on their expertise in only one diaspora.... This will be a core text for diaspora studies. Essential." Choice

From the Publisher