From Revolution to Exile: Arab Diaspora Politics in a Post-2011 Context

The American sociologist, Roger Brubaker critiques the overuse of "diaspora" as a static concept, likening it instead to a fluid "category of practice, project, claim and stance." Furthermore, the literature recognizes diasporas primarily as transnational communities with multiple societal affiliations and identities. However, recent political upheavals, like the 2010-2011 Arab uprisings, have thrust Middle Eastern and North African diasporas into new contentious and repressive dynamics, highlighting their changing roles and challenges, often referred to as the "Diaspora Spring". The proposed one-day international conference aims to delve into these complexities, focusing on empirical case studies from the MENA region post-2011 to explore innovative political roles and strategies developed by diasporas in navigating their multifaceted identities and engagements in a post-uprising world.