Host state reactions to home state diaspora engagement policies: Rethinking state sovereignty and limits of diaspora governance

Abstract

During the last few decades, institutions, policies, and other state-sponsored mechanisms linking home states and diasporas have expanded well beyond traditional areas. Numerous states have established diaspora engagement policies and institutions to tap diaspora resources and maximize their political, economic, and cultural interests. Previous research largely focused on these policies’ motivations and their impact on diasporas, with little attention being paid to the host states’ context. How do host states react to other states’ diaspora engagement policies within their borders? Where do host states draw the line for other states’ involvement in their territory? In this article, we examine Turkey's diaspora engagement initiatives in European countries, and zero in on host states’ reactions to these extraterritorial activities. We argue that diaspora engagement has limits and its scope is determined by the foreign and domestic political processes of the host states and their concern over their sovereignty and security.