ABSTRACT
This chapter examines learning and social change within a case of diaspora politics to reflect the growing contribution of people in affecting change amid increased globalisation. As an alternative to representations of migrants and diaspora primarily as a source of economic development through remittances, it focuses on the case of UK-based activism in the continuing Egyptian revolution to acknowledge the range of actors who struggle in the social and political development of their place of origin. Diaspora politics remains an understudied dimension of migration and development studies, but when connected to social movement learning, it opens up alternative understandings of development and education. The chapter argues that as activists learn about power, they illustrate the importance of more political understandings of development that are informed by theories of social justice. It concludes by reflecting on the potential of this approach that connects development, learning and social movement activism to creating alternatives of and for new languages and practices of development.
