| Summary: | This study examines the political activity of two prominent diaspora groups in
Canada - the Sikhs and the Tamils. The principal research questions that are explored
are: a) why do some diaspora groups engage in sustained and prolonged political
endeavors to influence homeland politics, and b) why has diasporic political activity so
often emerged from Canada? Situated against diaspora formations based exclusively on
religious, economic, or ideological goals, this study finds that "stateless" diasporas are
more likely to become involved in protracted political struggles to shape homeland
events. These findings result from an interconnected set of factors that influence core
identity constructions in diaspora populations. Identity is linked closely with homeland
territory and with homeland conditions, particularly conflict. Identity is also impacted by
conditions in the host country, especially with regard to asylum/immigration policy,
official multiculturalism, intelligence, and the ability to impact host country politics.
This study concludes that identity (re)construction in the diaspora is based on a
combination of primordial (territory, race, language, religion), instrumental (position in
host country, diaspora elite interests), and socially constructed (homeland myths) factors.
The type of political activity that emerges from diaspora populations with a base in
Canada can best be explained by the Transnational Advocacy Network (TAN) model.
Despite some essential differences between ethno-national diaspora networks and
advocacy groups, the model helps to predict when political diasporas will engage in
direct confrontational political action with homeland authorities and when they may turn
to national governments, international agencies, and NGOs. A comparison of Sikh and
Tamil groups helps elicit some of the major variables that dictate certain forms of
transnational political behaviour. Some of these include funding opportunities, military
capacity, position in the host society, and the relative strength of the homeland
government. The conclusion reflects on the relevance of this study and provides a look
forward to some of the important policy implications. === Arts, Faculty of === Political Science, Department of === Graduate
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