Diasporas have been an inevitable part of the relations between the homeland and the emigration state. As such, diasporas do not just bridge and bond within the host state with their social capital; they maintain active, multi-layered ties with the country of origin. These transnational networks act as a third dimension, influencing political remittances, homeland conflicts, and diaspora diplomacy.
The homeland’s democratic position profoundly defines the diaspora’s relation with the receiving state. Host nations often view diaspora communities with scepticism due to their international connections and enduring links to their origins. These groups are frequently characterised as opaque entities whose "long-distance nationalism" raises questions about primary allegiance and belonging. Furthermore, the possibility of homeland political strife spilling over is seen as a risk that could compromise domestic security. In the context of democratic backsliding, homeland hegemonic forces actively seek to mobilise transnational communities to consolidate power across borders.
Building on this background, this panel focuses on the dual-ended effects of homeland democratic backsliding on transnational spaces. We aim to explore how democratic backsliding in the country of origin shapes and affects diasporic actors within host democracies, inadvertently shaping host-state policies and integration politics. We are particularly interested in how long-standing transnational corridors adapt to shifting political, security, and identity landscapes.
We invite theoretical and empirical contributions that capture the lived experiences of these friction points. Key questions include, but are not limited to:
*What role do diaspora communities play in the context of homeland authoritarianism and populism?
*How does the host state respond to these tensions, and how does this affect migrants' everyday security?
*What is the position of different diasporic actors—such as gender advocacy networks, dissident exiles, and grassroots civil society organisations—in this transnational spillover process?
*How do these transnational actors navigate, bridge, and contest hegemonic power in both the homeland and the host state?
We expect this panel to initiate multi-sited cross-country analysis, as well as to elaborate research focusing on a single transnational space.
