ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at diasporas of Middle Eastern minorities in two senses that directly correlate with the meaning one can attribute to the concept of diaspora. Although estimating the number of diaspora members is a very doubtful issue, both in practical and theoretical terms. The chapter discusses the complex issue of transformation of group identity in a post-migration context by distinguishing five factors that very generally define the dynamics diasporas are facing, particularly in the first and second generation of dispersion. It focuses on religious identities and shows how religious and non-religious group identities relate to each other in different practices of diaspora. Migration movements of Mandaeans increased strongly after the American invasion of 2003, and the insecurity various religious minorities faced following. Syro-Lebanese diasporas increased significantly in number in the post-war period, particularly in the Americas, most notably Brazil, Argentina, and the USA.
