Abstract. Diasporas have become significant players in the international arena playing a significant role in domestic and international politics and have the power to influence both to national foreign decisions.

Diasporas are widespread and they have influenced international politics since ancient times and have moved from their home countries for centuries, for many reasons. There is no country in the world which doesn’t have any emigrants.

In this context, the article studies the role of Diasporas as diaspora groups and individuals are being recognized as major actors who can play a significant role in domestic and international politics and have the power to influence both national and foreign decisions.

The largest change in the post-war international system had an impact on the policies pursued by the actors in the system. These changes increase the uncertainty of the system causing the difficulty to actors to determine their position. Traditional bilateral and multilateral relations are complemented by new relationships between states. On this basis, there are new actors in international relations. Their number is striking for its diversity and their role is constantly and steadily growing in the world. Actors are any authority, any organization, any group or even any individual which play a role that is attributable in international relations. They have powerful economic, political or social power and are able to influence national and international level.

As F.M. Burlatskiy and A.A. Galkin assert “different actors play different roles: some of them occupy the forefront and are the” stars “, while others are nothing more than bit players, they all participate in the creation of a complete performance on the world stage” [1, p.98]. Among the non-state actors in international relations it is accepted to allocate intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations and other social forces and movements acting on the world stage.

Diasporas are widespread ethnic or national groups across different countries. People have moved from their home countries for centuries, for many reasons. Some are drawn to new places by positive factors, others find it difficult to remain where they are and migrate because of negative factors such as poverty, hunger, persecution, discrimination, civil war, unemployment. These have contributed to the movement of people. There is no country in the world which doesn’t have any emigrants. Recently migrant numbers have risen rapidly in the last decade simply for education and better jobs. Today Diaspora groups and individuals are being recognized as major actors who can use their influence and financial resources to contribute to local development in their homelands.

Cohan R.O. compares the world politics as an extensive and multilayered web of links connecting the numerous and diverse participants in international interactions, such as multinational corporations, transnational social movements and international organizations, financial groups and other private actors, including diaspora. In his book “Global Diasporas” Cohan states that diaspora studies have gone through four phases. According to him, first phase is from the 1960s and 1970s, the classical meaning, a description of the dispersion of Africans, Armenians and the Irish. The second phase is in the 1980s and diaspora was described as different categories of people ‘expatriates, expellees, political refugees, alien residents, immigrants and ethnic and racial minorities tout court’. Mid-1990s was the third phase which was marked by social constructionist critiques of ‘second phase’, the current phase is considered as the fourth phase [2, p.1].

Moreover, diaspora is just one of the important and little studied actors in the political life of various countries. But now against the background of globalization the world interest in Diasporas as a socio-political and ethnocultural phenomenon is extremely increased. In the context of economic and political globalization, migration processes have begun to play a significant role in the formation of the modern system of international relations. In this connection, the growing role and influence of the Diaspora is becoming an extremely important phenomenon in the international arena. Diaspora can contribute to the realization of the state’s foreign policy objectives of its outcome. Understanding this fact is necessary in general to all countries, but especially those who today tend to occupy a leading place in the modern world politics and should be seen as a tool for promoting national interests in improving the country’s foreign policy image.

The role of the diaspora in the political life can be characterized by the state as follows:

• creates a network of economic, political and other ties which is a fairly common international practice. Often diaspora itself creates a system of networking and the state; the historic homeland is becoming one of the links in the international
• Diasporas maintain a sufficient level of elements of national identity, the identity and address the challenges of assimilation, in the framework of a different nationality of the state of the
• Coordination and implementation of the diaspora policy efforts of government agencies, directly concentrated in this

Diasporas have a unique role in international relations because they find themselves in between two countries, sharing in two cultures, having an emotional investment in two nations, and preserving social connections in two societies. As mobilized groups with a strong sense of identity, Diasporas can play a role both in domestic and in international politics. As far as domestic politics is concerned, they may influence both the domestic politics of their homelands and the domestic politics of their host states regarding issues that are of interest to them. In the realm of international relations, they have the power to influence both national and foreign policy decisions and the decisions of international organizations.

Over the past few decades Diasporas have become more prominent on the world stage. Many scholars claim that Diasporas are created by a forced or induced historical emigration from an original homeland and they find themselves sharing two cultures, having an investment in two nations as well as persevering social connections in two societies. They believe that they may play a significant role in domestic and international politics and have the power to influence both to national foreign decisions.

More important, many researchers who are doing research in the field of migration processes say that beyond their financial and material value, Diaspora groups bring intellectual, political, social and cultural capital linking the home state with a host state throughout the world. In addition to their domestic political involvement in the homeland and host states, Diasporas also directly influenced bilateral relations of states of concern.

Despite the above mentioned facts some research shows that Diasporas are often involved in ethnic or international conflict. Diasporas as being geographically removed from the homeland and the source of conflict may experience the conflict and they may have contributed to the dispute between the two states. Diasporas are often involved in ethnic or international conflict promoting conflict resolution at the same time fuelling the conflict [3].

It should be evident that these arguments are the real facts. Diasporas are building political and cultural bridges between two counties, contributing to enhance the quality of life and introduce best international practice. Diasporas are often in agreement with the policies of their country of origin regarding foreign policy issues facing the homeland and they mobilize in support of such policies. There are many examples of such cooperation between diaspora and country of origin. Kotabe M. (2013) examines crossborder movements of financial capital through foreign direct investment and the transnational flows of people and the different types of capital that they possess. The authors identify the role of Diasporas and how they invest in their home countries through direct and portfolio investments or through the establishment of new ventures in their homelands. Moreover Diaspora capital is a useful development resource for migration-sending countries, many of which are among the most capital needy in the world. And Diasporas build networks which overcome various challenges such as language and foreignness that result in positive economic effects in the homeland. The authors state that Diasporas play influential roles in the foreign-market entry decision-making process, often encouraging their employers to at least investigate the possibility of investing in the Diaspora’s country of origin and generates new jobs and increased income [4].

Diaspora organizations and their smaller or bigger impact on international politics, the role of diasporas in international relations tends to be ignored or understudied. Nauja Kleist (2008) examines how Northwestern European development aid agencies value the role of diaspora organizations and their development activities of diaspora organizations. The author focuses particularly on small and medium-sized diaspora organizations that contribute to development of home country. According to the author the promotion and establishment of networks between different diaspora organizations and other development NGOs support funds that diaspora organizations can apply to, but lack of attention to diaspora organizations as well as support programmes are characterized by low budgets [5].

However, different diaspora organisations may support different political actors in the homeland that share their own view on the conflict and which work either towards conflict resolution or towards adopting a more militaristic attitude against the enemy. Diasporas contribute to conflict resolution and to social and economic development of their homeland. UNESCO has focused on the importance of diaspora networks, the Diaspora Knowledge Networks in particular, and their potential for contributions to peace and development in their native countries [6-8]. Their skills, experience, connections are commitment to the well-being of their homeland.

Conclusion

Diasporas widely recognized in international activities that aim at the promotion of international peace and development. The growing role and influence of the diaspora is becoming an extremely important phenomenon in the international arena. Diaspora can contribute to the realization of the state’s foreign policy objectives of its outcome. Understanding this fact is necessary in general to all countries, but especially those who today tend to occupy a leading place in the modern world politics and should be seen as a tool for promoting national interests in improving the country’s foreign policy image.

REFERENCES

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2. Cohen Global Diasporas. An introduction. Second Edition. Routledge, 2008. – 240 p.
3. Sheffer, Gabriel. Diaspora Politics: At Home Abroad. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
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5. Kleist, Nauja. Understanding Diaspora Organizations in European Development Cooperation – Approaches, Challenges and Ways Ahead // Public Integrityю 2008. 10, No. 4. – Р. 335-343.
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