Arab Diaspora as a Key Factor of Migration Policy of Middle Eastern Countries Krivov Sergei
Author Name
Krivov Sergei
Author Address
Nizhny Novgorod Lobachevski State University
Institute of International Relations and World History
Associate Professor
[email protected]
Keywords
Diaspora, remittances, Arab spring, political lobbyism, political opposition
Abstract
In recent years, many countries have quite active policy with regard to their compatriots abroad. Indeed, it is considerable remittances from migrant workers, the possibility to influence the foreign policy of other states using Diasporas as an effective tool of lobbying political decision-making. However, the attitude toward migrants, which is often seen as traitors to the nation, is not so clear. Indeed, from the beginning, employment has been a problem for the new Arab states. In addition, the money generated each year from migrant workers account for 3,3% of revenues from export of goods and services in Algeria, 7,4% in Syria, 9,1% in Tunisia, 13,9% in Egypt, 28,7% in Jordan and 93,4% in Lebanon, making the labor emigration of the most profitable export. On the other hand there are examples of that in Tunisia and in Algeria the governments suspected the Diasporas before the events of 2011, that they give refuge to opponents of the political regimes. The methodological base of research is made constructivist approaches to reveal the evolution of views on migration issues by the ruling elite and public opinion of Arab countries. The main conclusion is that, as the democratization of Arab societies will expand their cooperation with the Diaspora
Conference
International Conference on "Global Migration: Rethinking Skills, Knowledge and Culture"