Diaspora Engagement in Times of Severe Economic Crisis: Greece and Beyond (Migration, Diasporas and Citizenship)

How does a severe economic crisis impact on diaspora-homeland relations? The present volume addresses this question by exploring diaspora engagement in Greece during the protracted post-2009 eurozone crisis. In so doing, it looks at the crisis as a critical juncture in Greece’s relations with its nationals abroad. The contributors in this book explore aspects of diaspora engagement, including transnational mobilisation, homeland reform, the role of diasporic institutions, crisis driven migration, as well as, comparisons with other countries in Europe. This book provides a compelling and original interdisciplinary study of contemporary diaspora issues, through the lens of an advanced economy and democracy facing a prolonged crisis, and, as such, it is a significant addition to the literature on European diasporas. Preface and Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction: The Greek Crisis as a Critical Juncture in Homeland-Diaspora Relations The Greek Diaspora and the Crisis Thematic Areas Homeland Reform and Diaspora Engagement “New migration” and Diasporic Interactions Diaspora Institutions Before and After the Start of the Crisis Diasporic Identities and Transnational Mobilisation During the Crisis Beyond the Greek Case References Part I: Homeland Reform and Diaspora Involvement Chapter 2: Crisis and Change: The Right of Greek Citizens to Vote Abroad Introduction Introducing the Variables Crisis as Critical Juncture Agents of Change The International Environment as Transnational Pressure Methodology The Pre-2009 Milestones on Homeland-Diaspora Engagement and Missed Opportunities for the Facilitation of the Diasporic Vote The Post-2009 Era: The Crisis as Critical Juncture for the Vote Facilitation The Critical Juncture: Economic Depression, Outward Migration, Reshaping of Party Politics The Agents of Change: Political Parties, Press, Diaspora Actors The International Norm: Greece as an Outlier Conclusions References Chapter 3: International Portability of Social Benefits as a Bridge to the Crisis-Driven Diaspora Introduction Context: From Individual Emigration to Diaspora Formation The European Union as a Facilitator The Development of a ‘European social model’ and Rights Portability Bridging Institutional Chasms: EU Institutional Convergence The Past: Á la carte Solutions to ad hoc Problems The Present: Does the New Pension System Pose Any Less of a Problem? The Future: Could There Be a Migration-Friendly Pension System for Greece? Conclusion: A Pandemic Opportunity References Chapter 4: Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy During the Crisis and the Shifting Boundaries of State and Civil Society Introduction State and Civil Society During the Crisis: The Binary Framework Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy: Differentiating Propensity to Fill the Crisis-Generated Funding Gaps Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy: The Breaking Down of the Binary Framework’s Borders Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy in Crisis-Hit Greece: Acting in Tandem But at Different Degrees The Crisis Is with Us for a Long Time Coming: Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy in a Post-Crisis Context Diaspora and Transnational Philanthropy, the State and Civil Society: An Assessment References Part II: Crisis-driven Emigration and Diasporic Interactions Chapter 5: Remittance Behaviour of Greek Emigrants in the UK During the Long Recession Introduction Framework: Micro-Level Determinants of Remittance Sending Behaviour Data Description of the Dataset: Methods of Data Collection and Type of Information Collected Features of the Individuals in the Sample Results Conclusions References Chapter 6: The Greek Diaspora in the UK during the Crisis: Socioeconomic Integration, Prospects of Return and Aspects of Engagement Introduction Data Collection Brain-Drain and the ‘Diaspora’ and ‘Return’ Policy Options The Greek Diaspora in the UK A Small but Economically Vibrant Diaspora Contemporary Migration to the UK Greece’s Third Emigration Wave and the UK as a Major Destination The Demographic Profile of the Greek Diaspora in the UK Migration Motivations Socioeconomic Integrations in the UK Identification Diaspora Engagement Future Plans among the Greeks in the UK Conclusion References Chapter 7: “When in Rome”: Do Recent Greek Migrants Adopt New Norms on Corruption While Living Abroad? Introduction Methodology and Data Migration, Corruption and Social Remittances—Clarifying the Conceptual Terrain Corruption and Emigration: The Case of Greece Analytical Framework Findings “When in Rome ...”: Perceptions of Corruption in Greece and Host Countries Changes in Perceptions of Corruption Not Exactly a Success Story: Interaction with Family and Friends What Next (for Greece and Its Diaspora)? References Part III: Diaspora Institutions Before and After the Outbreak of the Crisis Chapter 8: The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE): From Great Expectations to Disillusionment and Crisis Irrelevance Introduction Portrait of an Institution: What Went Wrong? SAE’s Infancy and Main Deficiencies Delegate Selection Absence of Subsequent Diaspora Generations and Younger Diaspora Government Intervention The Impact of the Greek Crisis Appendix: Chronology of Events—World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Milestones References Chapter 9: The Greek Americans and the Greek Economic Crisis in Historical Perspective Introduction The Dual Orientations of Diasporas Philanthropy in America The Dual Orientation of Greek American Organisations Greek American Mobilisation in the 1940s Greek American Mobilisation in the 1970s Greek America and the Greek Economic Crisis Critiques and Responses Within Greek America New Initiatives Conclusion References Chapter 10: The Ecumenical Patriarchate: Bridging Greece, the Diaspora and the Orthodox World Introduction Orthodoxy, Greek Nationalism and Diaspora The Archdiocese of America and the Greek American Diaspora Environmentalism and the Call for Interreligious and Interethnic Tolerance Ecclesiastical Geopolitics Diaspora and the Greek State The Greek Crisis Conclusion References Part IV: Diasporic Identities and Transnational Mobilisation During the Crisis Chapter 11: Diaspora Public Diplomacy at a Time of Homeland Crisis: The Philotimo Nation as Global Distinction Introduction Diaspora Public Diplomacy and the Washington OXI DAY Foundation State and Non-state Sectors: Public Diplomacy, Branding, and Global Distinction US Foreign Policy and Greek Global Distinction Conclusion References Chapter 12: Diasporic Homecoming and Transnational Flows in Times of Crisis: Economic Strategies and Mobilities of Greeks from the Former Soviet Union in Thessaloniki Introduction Theoretical and Methodological Framework Returning to the “Homeland” and the Emerging Ethnic Economies of FSU Greeks Open-Air Markets The Russian Products Entrepreneurship, Economic Strategies and Migrations During the Financial Crisis of 2010 Surviving the Crisis: Re-considering Migration Patterns Concluding Remarks References Chapter 13: Crisis, Identity and Diasporic Mobilisation: Perspectives from Young People and Parents in the Greek Diaspora in England Introduction The Greek Diaspora in the UK: Complex Identities and Ties with the Homeland Young People in Diaspora: Identities and Mobilisation at Times of Homeland Crisis Conceptual Approaches Perceptions of Greece in Crisis (Dis)Connections, In/Exclusions and Young People’s Multiple Identities in Diaspora Conclusions: Opportunities and Challenges to Helping the Homeland at a Time of Crisis References Chapter 14: Greek-Australian Ethno-regional Diasporic Engagement with the Homeland During the Greek Economic Crisis: Ethnographic Insights Crisis, Transnational Heritage and the Diasporic Ethno-regional Connection Castellorizian Wartime Trauma as Transnational Heritage Castellorizian “Homecoming” During the Crisis and Beyond: Cultural and Educational Projects Transnational Initiatives with Global Orientation: Environmental and Philanthropic Projects Conclusions and Further Thoughts References Part V: Beyond the Greek Case Chapter 15: The Debt Crisis and Homeland-Diaspora Engagement in Portugal: Institutions, Remittances and Political Participation Introduction Methodology Portuguese Diaspora Engagement: Drivers of Change and Policies in the Post-1974 Context From Emigration Policy to Diaspora Policy: National Identity, Recognition and Defence of Social and Political Rights of Emigrants Engaging the Portuguese Diaspora in Economic Development: The Impact of the Post-2008 Economic Crisis Relations of the Portuguese Diaspora with the Country of Origin from the Emigrants’ Perspective Remittances: An Older Form of Diaspora Engagement Results Political Participation Concluding Remarks References Chapter 16: Ireland’s Homeland-Diaspora Engagement: Policy Responses to the Post-2008 Economic Crisis Introduction A Long Tradition of Emigration A Developing Discourse of Diaspora and an Engagement with Diaspora Policy Current Diasporic Engagement Continuities Divergences Some Differences Between the Irish and Greek Cases Conclusions References Chapter 17: Migration and Diaspora at Times of Crisis: Public Perceptions of Emigrants in Ukraine Introduction Methodology Shifting Perceptions of Emigrants and Diasporas in a Global Context Pre-Euromaidan Migration Discourses: A Soviet Heritage National Context of Emigration and Formation of the Ukrainian Diaspora Socio-economic Features Migration Dynamics The Euromaidan Revolution and the Ukrainian Crisis Complex: A Threshold Event Diaspora Responses to the Euromaidan Uprising Post-Euromaidan Discourses on Migration and Diaspora Conclusions References Chapter 18: Conclusion: A New Model of Diaspora Engagement? The Limits and Failures of the Pre-2009 Diaspora Engagement New Fields of Engagement Towards a New Model of Diaspora Engagement? Polycentricism, Pragmatism, Empowerment References Index