The Eritrean Diaspora. Involvement in Homeland Affairs and its Role in the Making of Modern Eritrea

Abstract or Introduction

This paper gives instructive insights into the extremely close ties between the Eritrean leadership and the Eritrean diaspora. The engagement of the Eritrean diaspora in homeland affairs dates back to the beginning of the Eritrean struggle for independence. During the Eritrean war of independence from Ethiopia (1961-91), the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) developed transnational strategies that incorporated the exile communities into the independence movement. After independence, these transnational strategies were maintained for the building of a self-reliant nation-state. As a matter of fact, the diaspora continues to play a significant role in homeland affairs through its ongoing engagement in the re-construction of the war-torn country.

The great degree to which Eritrean transnationalism has been established and institutionalized by the former independence movement and the nascent Eritrean state is remarkable. In particular, as they are pursued by a state with rare administrative and financial resources. The Eritrean leadership established a global diaspora with strong sociocultural, political and economic ties to their homeland, maintained over space and time. This success and the remarkable sense of commitment within the Eritrean diaspora contrasts with varying degrees of failure, similarly, to mobilize diaspora populations in other countries.

This research draws on a variety of secondary literature and recently emerging literature on Eritrean diaspora communities. Furthermore, it relies on qualitative research, consisting of semi-structured interviews with four leading members from the Eritrean diaspora. In accordance with the research objective, this paper is guided by the following research questions: (a.) What policies have been pursued by the former independence movement and the nascent Eritrean state to influence the involvement of the Eritrean diaspora in homeland affairs? (b.) Which role did the Eritrean diaspora play in the making of modern Eritrea? (c.) In which ways did the Eritrean diaspora engage in homeland affairs? .