International Symposium on DIASPORA IN FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS UNDER GLOBALISATION

Diaspora has emerged as one of the six mega trends under globalization. Globalization changed many rules of the international relations, introduced new factors and removed some of the old taboos. Some of these features have become an important feature of International relation now. The state boundaries became much more porous, ethnic connectivity across the border became like a social capital, and Diasporas located in several countries became heritage resource for bilateral relations. Countries after countries started using their diasporas abroad and diasporas within as an important resource to promote bilateral relations with different countries. The experience of China, wherein 1980’s, sixty four percent of the FDI came through its Diaspora became an eye opener to the world. Several other Diasporas, like the Jews, Armenians, imperial British Diaspora were highly connected globally. Chinese, Indian, African and East European Diaspora have started cultivating its linkages abroad. Diaspora has also emerged as an important player in the civil society, as it became an international actor in international civil society, where it has organized itself at global level and started raising issues of human rights, legitimate political and cultural spaces, issues of marginalization and discrimination of people belonging to same diaspora. Diaspora has emerged as one of the six mega trends under globalization. Globalization changed many rules of the international relations, introduced new factors and removed some of the old taboos. Some of these features have become an important feature of International relation now. The state boundaries became much more porous, ethnic connectivity across the border became like a social capital, and Diasporas located in several countries became heritage resource for bilateral relations. Countries after countries started using their diasporas abroad and diasporas within as an important resource to promote bilateral relations with different countries. The experience of China, wherein 1980’s, sixty four percent of the FDI came through its Diaspora became an eye opener to the world. Several other Diasporas, like the Jews, Armenians, imperial British Diaspora were highly connected globally. Chinese, Indian, African and East European Diaspora have started cultivating its linkages abroad. Diaspora has also emerged as an important player in the civil society, as it became an international actor in international civil society, where it has organized itself at global level and started raising issues of human rights, legitimate political and cultural spaces, issues of marginalization and discrimination of people belonging to same diaspora. The International Symposium explored the role of Diaspora in foreign policy and developments and try to find out, what role Malay, Chinese and Indian Diasporas can play in Malaysia and the region.

Organizers