Diaspora Engagement at a Time of Crisis

This book explores the complicated dynamics of the global diaspora and its central role in times of crisis. The chapters in this volume examine how diaspora communities, often scattered across different countries, become crucial actors in times of need in their home countries. Using a mix of real-life examples and academic analysis, the authors document how diasporas mobilise resources, influence policy and provide support in times of crisis such as natural disasters, economic downturns and political unrest. Written in an accessible style, this book offers the reader a compelling insight into the powerful influence of global diaspora networks. It illuminates the ways in which these communities bridge the gap between nations and offers a unique perspective on the interconnected world in which we live. Whether you are a student, policy maker, or simply curious about global affairs, this book will deepen your understanding of diaspora engagement in today's complex world. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of South Asian Diaspora.

S Irudaya Rajan is Chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Kerala, India and chair of the KNOMAD (the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development) thematic working group on internal migration and urbanisation, World Bank. He is one of the expert committee members to advise the Government of Kerala on Covid-19. Prior to this, he was a Professor at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). Professor Rajan is the editor of two Routledge series - India Migration Report and South Asia Migration Report. AKM Ahsan Ullah is Associate Professor of Geography, Environment and Development at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD). He has worked with various prestigious institutions such as the City University of Hong Kong, Dalhousie University in Canada, the American University in Cairo, Osnabruck University, Germany, and the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, among others. His research focuses on important global issues such as population migration, human rights, development, globalisation, and the environment. He has published 15 books, 60 articles in leading academic journals, and 40 book chapters.

Preface 1. From knowledge to action: South Asian diaspora engagement in times of crisis 2. Academic diaspora response in crisis: an alternative approach 3. Mobilizing to support those most in need: the importance of diasporic social capital during the COVID-19 pandemic 4. 'Lending a helping hand to my people back home in times of crisis': Kerala diaspora network's presence in times of crisis in the Gulf migration corridor 5. 'Will I be able to see my family ever again?' Tales from the Indian diaspora in times of COVID-19 in Singapore 6. Diasporic engagement and the climate crisis in Kerala: inclusive disaster relief and reconstruction? 7. Migration, debt, and transnational livelihood: Indian labour diasporas in the GCC states amid the pandemic 8. Resilient women: transnational homes and identities in Tahmima Anam's A Golden Age