'Characterized by a true comparative perspective, the study contrasts with work of the many who claim that perspective but in fact project a model based on their expertise in only one diaspora … This will be a core text for diaspora studies. Essential.' Choice

This book is intended to fill in a gap in the study of modern ethno-national diasporas. Thus, against the background of current trends - globalization, democratization, the weakening of the nation-state and massive transstate migration, it examines the politics of historical, modern and incipient ethno-national diasporas. It argues that unlike the widely accepted view, ethno-national diasporism and diasporas do not constitute a recent phenomenon. Rather, this is a perennial phenomenon whose roots were in antiquity. Some of the existing diasporas were created in antiquity, some during the Middle Ages and some are modern. An essential aspect of this phenomenon is the endless cultural-social-economic and especially political struggle of these dispersed ethnic groups that permanently reside in host countries away from their homelands to maintain their distinctive identities and connections with their homelands and other dispersed groups of the same nation. While describing and analyzing the diaspora phenomenon, the book sheds light on theoretical questions pertaining to current ethnicity and politics.

Preface and acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Primary questions and hypotheses
2. Diasporism and diasporas in history
3. A collective portrait of contemporary diasporas
4. Diasporas in numbers
5. The making, development, and unmaking of diasporas
6. Stateless and state-linked diasporas
7. Trans-state networks and politics
8. Diasporas, the nation-state and regional integration
9. Loyalty
10. Diasporas at home abroad
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Sociology & anthropology [JH]