Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

The Mobilization Processes Utilized by the Tigrayan Diasporas in North America: A Reflection

Desta, Asyehgn, G. E. Gorfu

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v12-i6/13978

Open access

Going beyond the prevalent approach of exploring the role of diasporas’ financial remittance to support relatives and social remittance (i.e., the transfer of knowledge, skills, and models of business incubators), it is worth investigating the mobilization process the diasporas undertake when their original homelands or regional centers are faced with insurmountable internal conflicts. The purpose of the study was to review the various mobilization processes and collective activities that the Tigrayan diasporas are undertaking to challenge the genocidal war that the Ethiopian government and its allied forces have inflicted on the Tigrayan civilians. Based on the review of the literature, it was established that diasporas use informal ties and networks as a driving force to recruit, mobilize, and raise the consciousness of the passive diasporas who originated from their homelands. The principal findings of study indicate that, in earlier years, the mobilization of Tigrayan diasporas operating in North America was propelled to raise funds and assist on developmental-oriented projects in Tigray. Since the Ethio-Tigraya war of November 4, 2020, the Tigrayan diasporas re-strategized their techniques to playing active roles to mobilize and sustain the collective identity of Tigrayan diasporas.

Alemayehu, K. (2020). “Security and Justice for Tigreans in Ethiopia” https://tigray.net/2020/05/03/security-and justice-for-tigeans-in-ethiopia/.
Amanuel, H. (2016). “The History and Impact of the Tigrai Development Association.” https://www. Hiruyamanuel.net/history-impact-tigrai-development-association/
Ambrosio, T. (2002). Ethnic Identity Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
Anderson, B. (1992). The New World Disorder. New Left Review.
Biden, J. (2021). “Remarks by President Biden Before the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.” United Nations Headquarters, New York, New York.
Bostrom, A., Brown, D., and Cechvala, S. (2016). “Humanitarian Effectiveness & the Role of the Diaspora: A CDA Literature Review.” CDA: Practical Learning for International Action. Cambridge, MA.
Braziel, J. E. (2008). Diaspora: An Introduction. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.
Cunanan-Angsioco, E. (2001). “14: Outreach and Mobilization.” The Action Guide for Advocacy and Citizen Participation.
Demmers, J. (2007). “New wars and diasporas: Suggestions for research and Policy “. Journal of Peace Conflict & Development, 11, 1-26.
Desta, A. (2014). From Economic Dependency and Stagnation to Democratic Developmental State. Trenton, N.J.: The Red Sea Press.
Godwin, M. (2021). “Let my people go: diaspora mobilization for human rights of political prisoners.” Globalization. Published online.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2021.1884328
Haney, P., and Vanderbush, W. (2005). The Cuban Embargo: Domestic Politics of American Foreign Policy. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.
Hassan et al (23 February 2021). “Recognizing diaspora humanitarianism: what we know and what we need to know more about”. Danish Institute for International Studies. Accessed 6 August 2021: https://www.diis.dk/en/research/recognizing-diaspora-umanitarianism
Ionescu, D. (2006). Engaging Diasporas as Development Partners for Home and Destination Countries: Challenges for Policymakers. Geneva: International Organization for Migration.
Koinova, M. (2018). “Diaspora Mobilization for Conflict and Post-conflict Reconstruction: Contextual and Comparative Dimensions.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol 44, 2018.
Koinova. M (October 23). “Four Types of Diaspora Mobilization: Albanian Diaspora Activism for Kosovo Independence in the US and the UK.” Foreign Policy Analysis. Volume 9, Issue 4.
Medhanie, S. (2021). “Tigray Development Association in North America.” Accessed November 18.2021:https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik.
Mukunda, K.P. (2001). “Training Module on Social Mobilization.” Accessed 18 October, 2021: https://www.fao.org/3/Ad346E/ad346e07.htm.
Nagel, J. (February 1994). “Constructing Ethnicity: Creating and Recreating Ethnic Identity and Culture.” Social Problems, Vol. 41, No.1.
Nedelmann, B. (December 1987). “Individual and Parties–changes in the processes of political mobilization.” European Sociological Review. Vol.3, Issue 3, 181-202.
Newland, K., and Plaza, S. (2013). “What we Know about Diasporas and Economic Development”. Policy Brief, Migration Policy Institute. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). University of Barcelona.
Ostergaard-Nielsen, E. (2006). “Diasporas and Conflict Resolution –Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?
Prasad, S. K., and Savatic, F. (2021). “Diaspora Foreign Policy Interest Groups in the United States: Democracy, Conflict, and Political Entrepreneurship.” London: Cambridge University Press. Accessed 8 September 2021: https://www.cambridge.org/core.
Ragab, N. J. (2020) “Diaspora Mobilization in a Conflict Setting.” Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Maastricht University.
Rubenzer, T., and Redd, S. B. (2010). “Ethnic minority groups and US Foreign Policy: Examining congressional decision making and economic Sanctions.” International Studies Quarterly, 54(3) 755-777, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Smith, H., and Stares, P. (2007). Diasporas in Conflict. Tokyo: UNU Press.
Sokefeld, M. (2006). Mobilizing in Transnational Space: A Social Movement Approach to the Formation of Diaspora.” Global Networks, 6(3), 265-284.
Suh-Nwji. (2013). “Role of diaspora in post-Arab Spring Reconstruction.” Pambazuka News. Cited from https://www.pambazuka.org/print/85888.
Tigray Development Association in North America. (1989). Cited from https://causes.benevity.org/causes/840-521666534.
Tigray Development Association in North America. (2021). “ TDA’s works in the past and present.”
Van Hear, Pieke, N., and Vertovec, S. (2004). The Contribution of UK-based diasporas to development and poverty reduction. ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford: University of Oxford.
Williams, R. (1994). “The Sociology of Ethnic Conflicts: Comparative International Perspectives.” Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 20.
Zewde, B., Yntiso, G., and Berhanu, K. (2014). “The Ethiopian diaspora and the Tigray Development Association, in Diasporas, development, and Peacemaking in the Horn of Africa, L. Laakso and P. Hautaniemi, (eds.) London: Zed book.

In-Text Citation: (Desta & Gorfu, 2022)
To Cite this Article: Desta, A., & Gorfu, G. E. (2022). The Mobilization Processes Utilized by the Tigrayan Diasporas in North America: A Reflection. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 12(6), 404 – 409.