Digital Diasporas, Identity, and International Policy Processes—(DIP)2

Research and Event Summaries

Event Summary

How do globalization and technological advancement affect diasporas has been the focus of Professors Brinkerhoff and Brainard's research. In November, the GWCSG held its second Brown Bag Discussion of the 2003 fall semester to answer this and other questions about the role of digital diasporas in a global world. In their study Professors Brainard and Brinkerhof, explored how diasporas are using the Internet, thus becoming digital diasporas (DDs) to organize, negotiate and maintain their cultural identities, and to mobilize that identity for policy advocacy and quality of life improvements in their cultural home territories.

The professors held an informative and engaging discussion drawing on the findings from their four research papers; "Cyber-Grassroots Organizations: From Personal Fulfillment to the Greater Good?"; "Lost in Cyberspace: Shedding Light on the Dark Matter of Grassroots Organizations"; "Sovereignty Under Siege, or a Circuitous Path for Strengthening the State?: Digital Diasporas and Human Rights"; and "Digital Diasporas and International Development: Afghan-Americans and the Reconstruction of Afghanistan".

The professors defined digital diasporas as a collection of expatriates or expatriate groups that are organized ONLY on the internet. The motivation for participating in digital diasporas is mainly "personalism" or personal fulfillment. The question is: Can digital diasporas be the foundation for pursuing a greater good?

Professor Brainard answered this question by agreeing that in the realm of digital Diasporas there are a lot of obstacles presented by personalism and by the Internet. Absence of face to face communication; an easy entry and exit; and cyber balkanization lead to a digital divide. Once participants of digitial diasporas overcome these obstacles of personalism and organizational obligations and ties, members and non-members alike will benefit by achieving the greater good through the cyber connection.

According to Professors Brainard and Brinkerhoff, cyber grassroots organizations (CGOs) have the power to influence governance issues in the home country. They have similar impact as non-govermental organizations (NGOs), and share similarities in terms of being voluntary, nonprofit, autonomous, informal, having volunteer staff, etc. However, CGOs differ from NGOs in terms of not being geographically based, having a larger number of members, being more complex than the regular NGOs and not having in-person relationships. In terms of function, however, both CGOs and NGOs have strong ideas/values trying to improve their own communities.

Next, Professors Brinkerhof and Brainard discussed the policy influence of digital diaspora presenting the case study of the Egyptian Copt Diaspora. They discussed the efforts, using information and communication technologies, of the Egyptian Copt diaspora to advocate for human rights and improved quality of life of Copts residing in Egypt.

Finally, the Professors talked about their findings on the influence of digital diasporas in international development. Diasporas are using the Internet to organize, negotiate and maintain their cultural identities and to mobilize that identity for policy advocacy and quality of life improvements in their cultural home territories. In fact, diasporas can contribute towards the reconstruction of post-conflict countries as it was proven in case of Afghanistan (Afghans for Tomorrow).

In response to the questions, both Brinkerhoff and Brainard accepted that internet access is still a big problem in many developing countries, especially in rural areas. Also, diasporas are not universally successful as a concept since they can have both destructive and constructive roles. However, the audience and the researchers agreed that in the long run diasporas can offer a lot of opportunities for the development industry such as recruiting expertise and soliciting information for development programs, disseminating information about development priorities and programming, and acting as intermediaries between traditional development actors, Diasporas and local communities, enhancing relevance and credibility for international NGOs and demonstrating innovative and effective approaches.

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