ABSTRACT
Diaspora as non-state actors is shaping the policies, practices, and identities of states, and often against state interests. They are non-state actors with immense soft power at their disposal with the capacity to alter state policies and behaviour. Diaspora as non-state actors therefore pose a challenge to traditional international relation theories rooted in a statist ontology. The early diaspora politics literature, which largely spawned in the United States, highlighted the powerful draw of ethno-nationalism amongst diaspora communities and their influence on the foreign policies of the United States. The position of the diaspora in relation to other diaspora networks, influential decision makers, or institutions that can be accessed within their social contexts become thus a significant factor. Diasporic activism has also found a platform on social media, where individuals and groups can mobilize on multiple issues across time and space.
