Abstract

Over the past decade a growing number of countries have become interested in revisiting, refreshing and rebuilding relations with their overseas populations. A new field of public policy, referred to as diaspora strategy, has emerged. A diaspora strategy is an explicit policy initiative or series of policy initiatives enacted by a sending state, or its peoples, aimed at fortifying and developing relationships with expatriate communities, diasporic populations, and foreign constituencies who share a special affinity. Notwithstanding their obvious differences, many countries are seeing merit in sharing experiences and through joint ‘policy transfer’ workshops, seminars, publications, toolkit manuals, and conferences are participating in an important global dialogue on international best practice with respect to the design and implementation of diaspora strategies.