Engaging the next generation: authoritarian regimes and their young diaspora

• Published in: European political science Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 143 - 158
• Main Authors: Wackenhut, Arne F., Orjuela, Camilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Palgrave Macmillan UK 01.03.2023; Palgrave Macmillan
• Subjects: Andra geografiska studier; Authoritarianism; Comparative Politics; Diaspora; diaspora activism; diaspora engagement; Dissent; Embeddedness; Extraterritoriality; Generational differences; International Migration and Ethnic Relations; Internationell migration och etniska relationer (IMER); migrant descendants; Migrants; Oppression; Other Geographic Studies; Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified; Political Science; Political Science (Excluding Peace and Conflict Studies); Political Science and International Relations; Political Science and International Studies; Political Theory; Second generation; second-generation diaspora; Special Issue; Special Issue Article; Statsvetenskap (Exklusive freds- och konfliktforskning); Supporters; Traitors; transnational repression; Transnationalism; Youth; Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap; Diaspora activism; Transnational repression; Second-generation diaspora; Diaspora engagement; Migrant descendants
• ISSN: 1680-4333; 1682-0983; 1682-0983
• DOI: 10.1057/s41304-022-00409-2

Recent scholarship on diaspora engagement and transnational repression has investigated how authoritarian regimes seek to engage, govern and control their diasporas. Recognizing that diasporas are diverse and that homeland states thus devise different strategies in relation to different groups, this research has—to a large extent—focused on the varied positions held by regime supporters and dissidents. Inter-generational differences, however, have not been studied in this context. Drawing on established frameworks theorizing extraterritorial authoritarian practices, this article explores the ways in which second-generation diaspora—or diaspora youth—is either included as subjects, patriots and clients, or excluded as outlaws and traitors by authoritarian regimes. Drawing on the literature on transnationalism and second-generation migrants, and using examples from empirical cases, we argue that the skills, resources and multi-sited embeddedness of the second-generation diaspora can make them particularly interesting targets for transnational engagement—or repression. We draw attention to specific strategies for mobilizing the support of diaspora youth, but also note that some techniques to control or repress extraterritorial subjects are less efficacious in relation to this generation.