Archive - Diaspora and Transnational Communities

Traditionally, the word "diaspora" was used to describe communities forced to leave their homeland due to persecution and forced expulsion. The term was usually associated with a sense of loss and longing and often used in the context of Jewish, Armenian or Greek diaspora for example. More recently, and with increasing frequency, the term "diaspora" is being defined in much broader terms to encompass the dispersal of any group of people from their original country or homelands to other countries. As a result, you will find more and more references to the African diaspora, for example, or the Indian diaspora. In the context of our programme, we have borrowed a definition suggested by Dr. Steven Vertovec, University of Oxford: “A diaspora is a self-identified ethnic group, with a specific place of origin, which has been globally dispersed through voluntary or forced migration”. (From Metropolis World Bulletin, September 2006, Volume 6).

UPEACE conference, photo taken by Allan Kosmajac
A more recent term - transnationalism - refers to a modern phenomenon that recognizes the heightened inter-connectivity between people across borders of nation-states and the loosening of boundaries between countries. Transnationalism is one of the effects of globalization and is directly affected by an easier access to information and communication through the increased use of information technology, ease of global transportation and migration. The rise of transnationlism is also due to a shift from “zero-sum migration" to "circulatory migration" patterns. For many migrants, especially highly-skilled migrants, migration is increasingly a movement between two or more social spaces. Therefore members of diaspora communities might have ties to more than one “home” country.

Both concepts of diaspora and transnationalism, have particular relevance to Canada. This is a country comprised of people almost all of whom, with the exception of the First Nations and other aboriginal peoples, have arrived on these shores in the past two centuries from some other part of the globe. Immigration has always been a central feature and a building block of Canadian society and the economy. Unlike immigrants of an earlier era, however, contemporary immigrants to Canada come from a larger number of countries and more diverse cultures than ever before. The 2006 census data released in March 2007 attributes two-thirds of Canada’s population growth over the past five years to immigrant newcomers. It is projected that by 2030 the country’s population growth will be 100 percent dependent on immigration.

Immigration is not a phenomenon unique to Canada, of course. The United States and Australia, along with Canada, are considered the three "classical" immigration countries. What differentiates Canada is the high level of diversity among immigrants.

Census data indicate that, between 1996-2001, Canada's visible minority population grew 6 times faster than the population as a whole. Statistics Canada predicts that when Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017, approximately one of every five Canadians will be a member of a visible minority. In large urban centres, like Toronto and Vancouver, members of visible minorities will represent more than 50% of the population. Another notable characteristic of immigrants to Canada is their high level of education compared to the general population. After all, Canada proactively seeks out “the best and the brightest” of highly skilled people from around the world to immigrate to Canada. It should be self evident that a highly educated population with links and ties to different parts of the world naturally will have opinions about world affairs in general and Canada’s role in the world in particular.

Diversity of the Canadian population is often celebrated as a defining feature of Canada. Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that we are giving anything more than lip service to the importance and implications of an increasingly diverse population. As former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, admitted in his recent book, Navigating a New World: Canada's Global Future, "we haven't quite figured out how to take full advantage of the influence and resources of our diaspora communities and their communications' networks around the world."

McMaster University, Global Citizenship Conference
photos by Greg Atkinson

The limited attention given to the changing make-up of the Canadian population and, in particular, the transnational facility, resources and attributes of diaspora communities is surprising. The phenomenon may present a multitude of opportunities for Canada. And, it may have important implications for a broad suite of Canadian policies whether they relate to international development, trade, peace keeping, investment or security.

In the report of a conference funded by the Foundation and prepared by the University of Winnipeg in 2005, entitled: “the Role of the Canadian Diaspora in Global Diplomacy and Policy-making”, conference participants reiterated the need for Canada to revisit many of its institutions, ideologies, and policies in order to better reflect what Canada is. They identified the need to involve Diaspora in domestic and foreign policy-making as paramount.

Highlights from initiatives the foundation has supported through our diaspora and transnational communities grants are available. Or, return to our Global Citizenship page or the Foundation’s home page.






	Archive - Diaspora and Transnational Communities Traditionally, the word "diaspora" was used to describe communities forced to leave their homeland due to persecution and forced expulsion. The term was usually associated with a sense of loss and longing and often used in the context of Jewish, Armenian or Greek diaspora for example. More recently, and with increasing frequency, the term "diaspora" is being defined in much broader terms to encompass the dispersal of any group of people from their original country or homelands to other countries. As a result, you will find more and more references to the African diaspora, for example, or the Indian diaspora. In the context of our programme, we have borrowed a definition suggested by Dr. Steven Vertovec, University of Oxford: “A diaspora is a self-identified ethnic group, with a specific place of origin, which has been globally dispersed through voluntary or forced migration”. (From Metropolis World Bulletin, September 2006, Volume 6). UPEACE conference, photo taken by Allan Kosmajac A more recent term - transnationalism - refers to a modern phenomenon that recognizes the heightened inter-connectivity between people across borders of nation-states and the loosening of boundaries between countries. Transnationalism is one of the effects of globalization and is directly affected by an easier access to information and communication through the increased use of information technology, ease of global transportation and migration. The rise of transnationlism is also due to a shift from “zero-sum migration" to "circulatory migration" patterns. For many migrants, especially highly-skilled migrants, migration is increasingly a movement between two or more social spaces. Therefore members of diaspora communities might have ties to more than one “home” country. Both concepts of diaspora and transnationalism, have particular relevance to Canada. This is a country comprised of people almost all of whom, with the exception of the First Nations and other aboriginal peoples, have arrived on these shores in the past two centuries from some other part of the globe. Immigration has always been a central feature and a building block of Canadian society and the economy. Unlike immigrants of an earlier era, however, contemporary immigrants to Canada come from a larger number of countries and more diverse cultures than ever before. The 2006 census data released in March 2007 attributes two-thirds of Canada’s population growth over the past five years to immigrant newcomers. It is projected that by 2030 the country’s population growth will be 100 percent dependent on immigration. Immigration is not a phenomenon unique to Canada, of course. The United States and Australia, along with Canada, are considered the three "classical" immigration countries. What differentiates Canada is the high level of diversity among immigrants. Census data indicate that, between 1996-2001, Canada's visible minority population grew 6 times faster than the population as a whole. Statistics Canada predicts that when Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017, approximately one of every five Canadians will be a member of a visible minority. In large urban centres, like Toronto and Vancouver, members of visible minorities will represent more than 50% of the population. Another notable characteristic of immigrants to Canada is their high level of education compared to the general population. After all, Canada proactively seeks out “the best and the brightest” of highly skilled people from around the world to immigrate to Canada. It should be self evident that a highly educated population with links and ties to different parts of the world naturally will have opinions about world affairs in general and Canada’s role in the world in particular. Diversity of the Canadian population is often celebrated as a defining feature of Canada. Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that we are giving anything more than lip service to the importance and implications of an increasingly diverse population. As former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, admitted in his recent book, Navigating a New World: Canada's Global Future, "we haven't quite figured out how to take full advantage of the influence and resources of our diaspora communities and their communications' networks around the world." McMaster University, Global Citizenship Conference photos by Greg Atkinson The limited attention given to the changing make-up of the Canadian population and, in particular, the transnational facility, resources and attributes of diaspora communities is surprising. The phenomenon may present a multitude of opportunities for Canada. And, it may have important implications for a broad suite of Canadian policies whether they relate to international development, trade, peace keeping, investment or security. In the report of a conference funded by the Foundation and prepared by the University of Winnipeg in 2005, entitled: “the Role of the Canadian Diaspora in Global Diplomacy and Policy-making”, conference participants reiterated the need for Canada to revisit many of its institutions, ideologies, and policies in order to better reflect what Canada is. They identified the need to involve Diaspora in domestic and foreign policy-making as paramount. Highlights from initiatives the foundation has supported through our diaspora and transnational communities grants are available. Or, return to our Global Citizenship page or the Foundation’s home page.
	© 2005 Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation. All Rights Reserved.