Episode 52: The prize of diaspora engagement (and how we risk squandering it)

The Migration & Diaspora Podcast

Hello and welcome to a very special episode of the Migration & Diaspora Podcast, in which we have our first-ever repeat guest. Great friend of Homelands Advisory and star guest of episode 2, Dr Martin Russell, AKA Doctor Diaspora, is back on the show to talk about the state of the diaspora engagement sector now four years on from that first interview.

About Martin

Everyone who works on diaspora engagement is more than familiar with Martin but for those of you who aren’t, Martin is the founder of the Global Diaspora Insights (GDI), a consulting firm. He completed his PhD at the Clinton Institute (University College Dublin) where his research focused on the role of the Irish diaspora in the Northern Ireland Peace Process specifically looking at diaspora media, diaspora philanthropy, and diaspora politics.

What we talk about

In today’s episode, we both reflect on our collective experience working on diaspora engagement in more than 50 countries, including:

• The evolving differences between migration and diaspora.

• The state of the diaspora engagement sector (progress made and opportunities missed).

• Diaspora diplomacy as an outsized opportunity area for governments.

It’s a bit of a “no holds barred” talk in which we try not to pull any punches. We’d like to thank you for tuning in and we hope you enjoy the show.

Links

• Global Diaspora Insights: https://www.globaldiasporainsights.com/

• Connect with Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-russell-0530131a5/

• MDPcast Ep2: https://www.homelandsadvisory.com/podcast/episode/f9e3585d/episode-2-doing-diaspora-lessons-learned-from-dr-martin-russells-diaspora-engagement-work-worldwide

• Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme: https://www.dfa.ie/global-irish/support-overseas/emigrant-support-programme/

• Kingsley Aikins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingsleyaikins/

• Global Diaspora Strategies Toolkit: https://thenetworkinginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Diaspora-Toolkit-Book.pdf

• European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF): https://diasporafordevelopment.eu/

• Global Citizens 2030 - Ireland’s Talent and Innovation Strategy https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/012d7-global-citizens-2030-irelands-talent-and-innovation-strategy/#:~:text=Global%20Citizens%202030%20is%20Ireland's,and%20research%20and%20innovation%20systems.

• HBR article on diaspora marketing: https://hbr.org/2013/10/diaspora-marketing

• John Hume Novel Lecture: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1998/hume/lecture/

• Routledge International Handbook of Diaspora Diplomacy: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-International-Handbook-of-Diaspora-Diplomacy/Kennedy/p/book/9781032080567

• Paul Quinn obituary: https://www.irishtimes.com/obituaries/2023/11/11/paul-quinn-obituary-pioneer-of-peace-process-who-did-not-seek-plaudits/

• President Biden’s African Diaspora Advisory Council: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/26/president-biden-announces-the-inaugural-members-of-the-presidents-advisory-council-on-african-diaspora-engagement-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=In%20accordance%20with%20Executive%20Order,the%20continent%20and%20the%20Caribbean.

• Ghana Year of Return: https://www.yearofreturn.com/