Homeland — Diaspora Relations: From Passive to Active Interactions

This paper examines a range of interactions which takes place between diasporas and homelands, focusing particularly on nationalism and politics. In the age of globalization such interactive processes can easily be (and often are) taken for granted. Despite this taken-for-grantedness, the author argues that these processes produce less than uniform impacts and should therefore not be referred to uncritically. It is essential to understand the shifting dynamics in transnational interaction, particularly in the field of diaspora research. To elaborate on this point, the paper analyzes post-Second World War interactive processes between the Australian Croatian diaspora and the Croatian homeland. It will be shown that construction of the homeland by the members of the diaspora is an ongoing process closely related to a variety of social and political factors surrounding homeland developments. In addition, this paper explores how migrants' sentiments towards their homeland shape their social identities.