Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Ties That Bind: A Study of Diaspora Engagement Policies in Ghana

Nilsson, Klas LU (2011) STVM11 20111
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The present study concerns itself with an aspect of the migration-development debate that has heretofore been surprisingly neglected in academic research. While migrants’ transnational engagement have drawn much attention, the corresponding outreach undertaken by emigration states to actively ‘court’ the diaspora has until recently escaped notice. This study advances the theoretical and empirical knowledge of so-called ‘diaspora engagement policies’, i.e. strategies implemented with the purpose of facilitating and encouraging the involvement of emigrants in the homeland. It contributes theoretically by presenting an analytical framework where these policies are classified into political, economic, and cultural brackets and also evaluated... (More)
The present study concerns itself with an aspect of the migration-development debate that has heretofore been surprisingly neglected in academic research. While migrants’ transnational engagement have drawn much attention, the corresponding outreach undertaken by emigration states to actively ‘court’ the diaspora has until recently escaped notice. This study advances the theoretical and empirical knowledge of so-called ‘diaspora engagement policies’, i.e. strategies implemented with the purpose of facilitating and encouraging the involvement of emigrants in the homeland. It contributes theoretically by presenting an analytical framework where these policies are classified into political, economic, and cultural brackets and also evaluated according the their degree of engagement. The framework is subsequently used to structure an empirical analysis of diaspora policies implemented by state institutions in Ghana. The study finds a remarkable range and prevalence of this kind of policies worldwide and it also shows that there has been a significant rapprochement in the most recent decade between state institutions in Ghana and Ghanaians overseas, in particular when it comes to political engagement. The Ghanaian policies of inclusion are more or less isolated instances of inclusion however, and are pursued in an ad hoc manner. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nilsson, Klas LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM11 20111
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Ghana, transnationalism, remittances, development, migration, diaspora engagement policies
language
English
id
1968745
date added to LUP
2011-06-20 15:11:42
date last changed
2011-06-20 15:11:42
@misc{1968745,
  abstract     = {{The present study concerns itself with an aspect of the migration-development debate that has heretofore been surprisingly neglected in academic research. While migrants’ transnational engagement have drawn much attention, the corresponding outreach undertaken by emigration states to actively ‘court’ the diaspora has until recently escaped notice. This study advances the theoretical and empirical knowledge of so-called ‘diaspora engagement policies’, i.e. strategies implemented with the purpose of facilitating and encouraging the involvement of emigrants in the homeland. It contributes theoretically by presenting an analytical framework where these policies are classified into political, economic, and cultural brackets and also evaluated according the their degree of engagement. The framework is subsequently used to structure an empirical analysis of diaspora policies implemented by state institutions in Ghana. The study finds a remarkable range and prevalence of this kind of policies worldwide and it also shows that there has been a significant rapprochement in the most recent decade between state institutions in Ghana and Ghanaians overseas, in particular when it comes to political engagement. The Ghanaian policies of inclusion are more or less isolated instances of inclusion however, and are pursued in an ad hoc manner.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Klas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Ties That Bind: A Study of Diaspora Engagement Policies in Ghana}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}