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Towards a Framework Convention for Diasporas in the European Union
Organiser: Mr Christopher Brewin, Keele University

Date: 13 September 2004

Venue: Keele University, Keele, UK

Many diasporic communities in Europe have organised themselves not just to reproduce their separate group identities but also to campaign on matters of domestic and foreign policy. Examples of domestic interest are demands for separate religious education, rights of residency, housing, social security benefits payable to dependents in their country of origin, or dual citizenship. In the field of foreign policy, activities range from providing a friendly platform for politicians from their region of origin to propaganda (eg MED-tv, websites, resolutions on the Armenian genocide in the European Parliament and the French Assembly), and the extreme example of the supply of weapons to Albanian, Kosovar and Kurdish forces.  Many diasporas have, understandably in view of the traumas that led to emigration, been ethno-nationalist rather than assimilationist; few have organised themselves in the host countries to foster mutual understanding among the contending groups in their region of origin.  For their part, host governments have treated such demands pragmatically as part of pluralist politics, or fostered umbrella organisations with whose leadership they can negotiate compromises.

These empirical facts raise the normative question whether the claims of such communities to reproduce themselves, and to maintain separate links with their regions of origin should be reinforced morally or legally by a European code acknowledging, and limiting, such rights. Hitherto, except in the case of Romanies, the comparable attempts to codify minority rights in Europe has not asked whether diasporas within or across national borders should also have rights to separate expression of their solidarity. The underlying question is whether Europe is moving from a concept of sovereign state/individual citizen to one acknowledging group rights based on diverse solidarities.

Contact: Mr Christopher Brewin, Keele University (T: 01782 583 211, c.j.brewin@keele.ac.uk)

Last modified: Tuesday, 15 March 2005
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