A comparative analysis of diaspora policies

Why are states increasingly developing policies aimed at embracing their populations abroad? This interest in diaspora policies has become relevant beyond the academic context, reflecting a growing practice of states and international organizations. To address this, the article first provides a description of the growing number of state practices aimed at their population abroad. Based on an original dataset of thirty-five states, it then uses multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to establish an inductive typology of sending states policies: expatriate, closed, indifferent, global-nation and managed labor. Finally, it assesses three explanatory frameworks of diaspora policies, finding that, while explanations based on material factors and ethnic conceptions of citizenship provide insights into the determinants of diaspora policies, analyses in terms of govemmentality provide a more fruitful framework for research. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.