Transcending Borders: The Evolution of the Refugee Diaspora in ‘Bounded’ and ‘Moebius ’ Space

<p>The emergence of ‘transnational refugee theory’ and the rubric of the ‘refugee diaspora’ have reignited refugee studies, and elicited an exciting theoretical vantage-point from which to explore refugee communities. This paper seeks to disentangle the core precepts of transnational refugee theory and, drawing upon compelling empirical evidence strengthen our understanding of the dynamic interaction between the refugee diaspora and the environment within which it evolves – in particular how the entrenched international refugee regime ontology impacts directly the effective functioning of the refugee community. Echoing Giddens’ Structuration Theory, what is proposed is that the refugee community exists within a ‘middle space’ – a synthesis of endogenous and exogenous factors that together establish the ‘boundaries’ that shape the diaspora space, and ultimately support or undermine the activities of those communities located within it. Accordingly, a refugee ‘middle space model’ is outlined, which defines a core set of economic, political and socio-cultural activities, and the endogenous and exogenous factors that shape their realisation in situ. This theoretical construct is applied to two case studies. Firstly, the ‘bounded’ space of Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya is shown to not only disregard but also actively undermine the transnational character of refugee displacement. Moreover, while the refugee community remains active in circumventing these boundaries, there remains an inherent ambiguity in this transnational activism, giving rise to a perversion or ‘transmutation’ of the bounded refugee space. In stark contrast, the Free Movement Protocols of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) are establishing a fluid ‘moebius’ space that both acknowledges and facilitates the transnational foundations of the refugee diaspora – as both a ‘bottom-up’ (endogenous) and ‘top-down’ (exogenous) process. However, the nascent UNHCR-ECOWAS partnership remains mired in an incoherent demarcation of responsibilities and a dearth of cohesive regional processes. Notwithstanding these limitations, the moebius middle space clearly offers an invigorating alternative to the prevailing UNHCR containment model – providing a truly ‘durable solution’ for those transnational communities dispersed across the refugee diaspora.</p>

Transcending Borders: The Evolution of the Refugee Diaspora in ‘Bounded’ and ‘Moebius ’ Space

<p>The emergence of ‘transnational refugee theory’ and the rubric of the ‘refugee diaspora’ have reignited refugee studies, and elicited an exciting theoretical vantage-point from which to explore refugee communities. This paper seeks to disentangle the core precepts of transnational refugee theory and, drawing upon compelling empirical evidence strengthen our understanding of the dynamic interaction between the refugee diaspora and the environment within which it evolves – in particular how the entrenched international refugee regime ontology impacts directly the effective functioning of the refugee community. Echoing Giddens’ Structuration Theory, what is proposed is that the refugee community exists within a ‘middle space’ – a synthesis of endogenous and exogenous factors that together establish the ‘boundaries’ that shape the diaspora space, and ultimately support or undermine the activities of those communities located within it. Accordingly, a refugee ‘middle space model’ is outlined, which defines a core set of economic, political and socio-cultural activities, and the endogenous and exogenous factors that shape their realisation in situ. This theoretical construct is applied to two case studies. Firstly, the ‘bounded’ space of Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya is shown to not only disregard but also actively undermine the transnational character of refugee displacement. Moreover, while the refugee community remains active in circumventing these boundaries, there remains an inherent ambiguity in this transnational activism, giving rise to a perversion or ‘transmutation’ of the bounded refugee space. In stark contrast, the Free Movement Protocols of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) are establishing a fluid ‘moebius’ space that both acknowledges and facilitates the transnational foundations of the refugee diaspora – as both a ‘bottom-up’ (endogenous) and ‘top-down’ (exogenous) process. However, the nascent UNHCR-ECOWAS partnership remains mired in an incoherent demarcation of responsibilities and a dearth of cohesive regional processes. Notwithstanding these limitations, the moebius middle space clearly offers an invigorating alternative to the prevailing UNHCR containment model – providing a truly ‘durable solution’ for those transnational communities dispersed across the refugee diaspora.</p>

Transnational communities : Filipina nurses in rural Manitoba, 1965-1970

This major research paper examines a unique group of Filipina nurses of the 1960s in Canada's immigration history. First, the conditions that encouraged the migration of Filipino professionals from the Philippines after World War Two are discussed. Second, the public and private sector maneuverings that facilitated the nurses' transportation to Canada are revealed. Third, the factors and experiences that resulted in the women's successful integration into mainstream rural Canada are explored. The achievement of Filipina nurses is indicative of a model example of social and professional integration into Canadian society.

Transnational communities : Filipina nurses in rural Manitoba, 1965-1970

This major research paper examines a unique group of Filipina nurses of the 1960s in Canada's immigration history. First, the conditions that encouraged the migration of Filipino professionals from the Philippines after World War Two are discussed. Second, the public and private sector maneuverings that facilitated the nurses' transportation to Canada are revealed. Third, the factors and experiences that resulted in the women's successful integration into mainstream rural Canada are explored. The achievement of Filipina nurses is indicative of a model example of social and professional integration into Canadian society.

Dual citizenship in the context of globalization, identity and belonging debate

At the beginning of the 21st century, there seems to be a global shift in paradigms of identity and belonging. For a long time, both of these entities have been deemed to be fixed and one-dimensional, tied to a specific nation, state and territory. But, under the influence of globalization, notions of identity and belonging are undergoing some fundamental changes. In the interconnected and migratory world we are living in, transnational communities possess and nurture identities of multiple belonging. These global interconnections create new challenges for previous notions of exclusive belonging to a single state-territory, and by extension, citizenship as the ultimate form of political belonging to a nation-state. In this context, dual citizenship has emerged as a legal recognition of this situation. In this paper, I discuss various issues connected to dual citizenship and argue for the need for recognition of full dual citizenship by every country of the world.

The Experiences of Homelessness among First and Second Generation South Asian Youth: Does Culture Matter?

The successful settlement of first and second generation youth in Canada is vital to Canada’s ethnic dynamism. In spite of this, youth are sometimes wedged between two cultural worlds and two opposing sets of expectations. With the rise of transnational communities, scholars have recently started to research intergenerational conflict between first and second generation youth and their parents. This area of research is just starting to connect with issues of precarious living among newcomer youth. The purpose of this paper is to look at the experiences of homeless South Asian youth to examine whether cultural conflict has facilitated their precarious living situation. Using a qualitative approach, three interviews were conducted with South Asian youth. The youth were residing in shelters at the time of the interviews. The interviews revealed that cultural clash within the family can trigger their precarious life and their use of the shelter system.

The Experiences of Homelessness among First and Second Generation South Asian Youth: Does Culture Matter?

The successful settlement of first and second generation youth in Canada is vital to Canada’s ethnic dynamism. In spite of this, youth are sometimes wedged between two cultural worlds and two opposing sets of expectations. With the rise of transnational communities, scholars have recently started to research intergenerational conflict between first and second generation youth and their parents. This area of research is just starting to connect with issues of precarious living among newcomer youth. The purpose of this paper is to look at the experiences of homeless South Asian youth to examine whether cultural conflict has facilitated their precarious living situation. Using a qualitative approach, three interviews were conducted with South Asian youth. The youth were residing in shelters at the time of the interviews. The interviews revealed that cultural clash within the family can trigger their precarious life and their use of the shelter system.

Dual citizenship in the context of globalization, identity and belonging debate

At the beginning of the 21st century, there seems to be a global shift in paradigms of identity and belonging. For a long time, both of these entities have been deemed to be fixed and one-dimensional, tied to a specific nation, state and territory. But, under the influence of globalization, notions of identity and belonging are undergoing some fundamental changes. In the interconnected and migratory world we are living in, transnational communities possess and nurture identities of multiple belonging. These global interconnections create new challenges for previous notions of exclusive belonging to a single state-territory, and by extension, citizenship as the ultimate form of political belonging to a nation-state. In this context, dual citizenship has emerged as a legal recognition of this situation. In this paper, I discuss various issues connected to dual citizenship and argue for the need for recognition of full dual citizenship by every country of the world.

Navigating Networks of Support

This chapter focuses on the ways temporalities of migration can be observed through the aging immigrants' relations with their communities. It talks about older immigrants who remained in the United States and those who returned to Taiwan and developed strategies to organize their social relationships. It also elaborates how aging immigrants often grappled with belonging in the community when engaged in social networks. The chapter cites two groups of immigrants that adopted different approaches to their cross-border networks, wherein one group knew their place within their social relationships in the United States while returnees in Taiwan tried to reacclimate to communities they had once left. It compares how the processes through which the two groups of immigrants maintained relationships transcended national borders and motivated them to rethink membership in transnational communities.