What is Diaspora? What are the main diasporas?

Diaspora concerns only one nation. You often come across this word in the news these days. Armenian diaspora etc. What does this concept we hear as? Here we will share for you the diaspora and the nations that are the major diaspora in the world.

What is Diaspora?

Diaspora is a phenomenon where a society maintains its original culture, language, religion and traditions in a different geography from their homeland and creates a community within itself. The word diaspora is derived from the Greek word “diaspeirein” and means “to spread, spread”.

Diaspora refers to a community that has migrated from their country of origin to another place. This migration is usually due to economic, political or religious reasons. Whatever the cause of the diaspora, these communities often try to maintain ties with family and friends in their countries of origin. These ties are maintained by establishing close cultural, religious or social ties with their home country.

The term diaspora has been used for many different communities throughout history. Many different societies such as Jewish, Armenian, Indian, Chinese, Irish and African communities have experienced their own examples of diaspora. The diaspora experiences of these communities are characterized by their close ties to their countries of origin and their efforts to preserve their original cultures.

Diaspora concept and history

The concept of diaspora in ancient Greece meant the people who left a metropolis and established colonies in different parts of the world. In the later period, the most common use of the word emerged with the spread of the Jewish people around the world after the Babylonian captivity in 586 BC. The verse in the Greek translation of the Torah, “You shall be scattered all over the world,” can probably be cited as the main source of the second meaning of this word.

Diaspora, by leaving the homeland of a nation due to exploitation, occupation, torture or for economic reasons; settle in foreign countries. Diaspora refers to the dispersed communities of dispersed peoples. In diaspora, communities that today are far from this philosophy see themselves as diaspora, which requires a community to have an irreversible dream of a homeland to qualify as a diaspora. The most common example of diaspora we hear is from the Armenians. When we say this concept, only Armenians come to mind. However, this concept is not only related to Armenians.

Types of diaspora

Diaspora is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of the migration of a community from its home country to another place. Diaspora is not only a community with cultural ties, it can also refer to a community with economic, political, religious ties. The concept of diaspora has led to the formation of different types of diasporas, which were formed as a result of the migration of many communities throughout history. Here are some types of diaspora:

Cultural diaspora

Cultural diaspora is the effort of a community to protect and disperse itself culturally as a result of migration from its homeland to another place. This type of diaspora arises where culture change takes place. Cultural diaspora is characterized by a community that maintains and spreads its cultural features, such as its language, food, customs, rituals, art, and music.

economic diaspora

Economic diaspora is a community that remains influential in its economic activities as a result of migration from its home country to another place. This type of diaspora usually occurs because of job opportunities. Immigrants maintain economic ties through trade, investment and financial support in their country of origin.

political diaspora

Political diaspora is a community trying to achieve its political goals as a result of migration from its home country to another place. This type of diaspora usually occurs because of political pressure. Immigrants want to lobby to achieve their political goals by maintaining their ties to the political structures in their countries of origin.

religious diaspora

Religious diaspora is a community that tries to preserve and spread their religious beliefs as a result of their migration from their homeland to another place. This type of diaspora is usually conducted by immigrants fleeing religious persecution. Immigrants maintain their religious ties by establishing places of worship and continuing their religious activities to preserve and protect their religious beliefs.

What are the main and largest diasporas?

Diaspora is a community with a unique culture, language, tradition and value system. These cultural features are tried to be preserved while building new lives in the place they migrated to. Here are the largest and most important diasporas;

1. Jewish diaspora

Jews who were expelled from the Kingdom of Judah and Roman Judea, who also lived outside of Israel. This concept, meaning scattered in modern Hebrew, was used in the 1930s by German-American academic Simon Rawidowicz. The beginning of the diaspora is believed to be in the 6th century BC, as described in the Torah, when the kingdom of Judah was conquered, Solomon’s temple was destroyed (586 BC), and the population was expelled.

There was an increase in the Jewish diaspora after the expulsion of the Jews, their escape after being used as slaves. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the term “Jewish diaspora” began to be used to describe Jews living outside of Israel. The current Jewish diaspora is in the US, Russia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.

2. Turkish diaspora

Turkish diaspora is the term used to describe Turks living abroad and the estimated global population of Turks who migrated from Turkey from former Turkish lands. We can examine the Turks living outside Turkey in three groups.

The Turkish minorities who remained outside the borders after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, those who did not come to Anatolia from Central Asia (those who remained in the former USSR) migrated to other countries after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.

3. Turkish Cypriot diaspora

Turkish Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots, Turks living in the island of Cyprus, after the Ottoman Empire conquered the island of Cyprus in 1571, the Turks in Anatolia migrated to the island of Cyprus. After the Turkish forces intervened on the island in 1974, after the island was split in two, it is the name given to the people living in the TRNC. The people who live here are not much different from the Turks in Turkey.

4. Azerbaijani diaspora

Azerbaijani diaspora is the common name given to Azeris living outside of Azerbaijan and Iranian Azerbaijan and consider themselves under this name. It is claimed that 3-4 million Azerbaijanis live outside Azerbaijan, but there is no exact information. The countries with the highest concentration of Azerbaijanis are: Russia, USA, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Germany and France.

5. Adygea/Western Circassian Diaspora

The North Caucasian people, who were deported from the Caucasus to the lands of the Ottoman Empire during the period of Tsarist Russia during the Circassian exile, with the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai, a branch of the Circassians and affiliated with the Russian Federation, and who today live in countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Israel, the Republic of Adygea. It makes up 24% of the

Why does diaspora occur?

Diasporas can arise for various reasons. These include war, natural disasters, political persecution, economic oppression and immigration. Many diaspora communities also leave their hometowns in accordance with their own choices.

What consequences can diaspora communities have?

Diaspora communities try to preserve their culture and traditions in the places where they were born. In addition, they keep their own culture in their new countries and share this culture with other communities. In addition, diaspora communities can have economic and social impacts in the places they go and increase cultural exchange between countries.

What challenges may arise for diaspora communities?

Diaspora communities may have difficulty adjusting to their new country. The integration process can be long and difficult due to differences in language, culture and lifestyle. In addition, diaspora communities in their new countries may be subject to discrimination, prejudice and separatist policies.

How to communicate with diaspora communities?

There are many ways to interact with diaspora communities. These avenues include social media, email, phone, letter, meetings and events. These communication tools can be used to contact diaspora communities and share their culture and experiences. There are also organizations that provide counseling services and other support resources to diaspora communities.