Diaspora and Homeland Conflict

Although the positive impact of diasporic communities on the economic development, political and social capital of their home countries has been well documented, their participation in conflicts, especially those that involve secession, are rarely covered. Using comparative case study methodology, this project investigates the homeland social, political and economic circumstances that influence the diaspora to fuel war and secession conflicts in their home countries. We compare the cases of Cameroon and Eritrea, identifying common patterns in the conditions that led their diasporas to support secessionist movements. We argue that marginalisation and institutional grievances such as repression create the conditions for diasporas to get involved in homeland civil wars. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by providing a comparative case study on the political engagement of diaspora communities in the secession movements in Cameroon and Eritrea

Civil society · Diaspora · Homeland · Political repression · Politics · Secession · Social capital · Spanish Civil War · African history and culture analysis · Diaspora, migration, transnational identity · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology