Praise for Previous Editions ‘Cohen’s erudition is vast … his interpretations are solid and well informed. By and large one can only marvel at the scope of Cohen’s learning and the richness of his vocabulary.’ Mark J. Miller, University of Delaware, USA, Journal of World History ‘Cohen’s book ofers a timely overview of diasporas. The book is also engagingly writ- ten, with Cohen’s personal anecdotes adding zing rather than self-indulgence to the analysis.’ Robert C. Smith, Columbia University, USA, Political Studies Quarterly ‘A succinct but satisfying book … as Cohen convincingly demonstrates here, the dias- pora wave is well and truly upon us.’ Sarah Ansari, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, Times Higher Educational Supplement ‘Robin Cohen’s delineation of common features associated with diaspora, and his prop- osition of ‘ideal types’, are important conceptual tools for use in systematic theorizing and research about diaspora, no matter the geographic location.’ Jualynne E. Dodson, Michigan State University, USA, Athens Journal of Social Sciences Global Diasporas Following its initial publication in 1997, Global Diasporas: An Introduction was central to the emergence of diaspora studies and quickly established itself as the leading textbook in the feld. This expanded and fully-revised 25th anniversary edition adds two new chapters on incipient diasporas and diaspora engagement while carefully clarifying the changing meanings of the concept of diaspora and incorporating updated statistics and new interpretations seamlessly into the original text. The book has also been made more student-friendly with illustrations, thought-provoking questions, and guides to further reading. The book features insightful case studies and compares a wide range of diasporas, including Jewish, Armenian, African, Sikh, Chinese, British, Indian, Lebanese, Afghan and Caribbean peoples. This edition also retains Cohen’s rich historical and sociological descriptions and clear yet elegant writing, as well as his modifed concept of a ‘diasporic rope’ linking diferent features of diasporas. This updated edition of the defnitive textbook in the feld will be an indispensable guide for students and instructors seeking to explore the complex issues of diaspora, migration and identity. Robin Cohen is Emeritus Professor of Development Studies at the University of O xford, UK. He has published widely on migration, globalization, social identity and diasporas. He is the author of numerous books, most recently Refugia: Radical Solutions to Mass Displacement (with Nicholas Van Hear, Routledge, 2019), Migration: The Movement of Humankind from Prehistory to the Present (Andre Deutsch, 2019) and Encountering Dif- ference: Diasporic Traces, Creolizing Spaces (with Olivia Sheringham, Polity Press, 2016). He is also editor of several volumes, including the Routledge Handbook of Diaspora Studies (with Carolin Fischer, Routledge, 2018) and The Cambridge Survey of World Migration (Cambridge University Press, 2010). Global Diasporas An Introduction 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Robin Cohen Cover image: © Getty Images Third edition published 2023 by Routledge 4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business © 2023 Robin Cohen The right of Robin Cohen to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. First edition published by Routledge 1997 Second edition published by Routledge 2008 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Cohen, Robin, 1944- author. Title: Global diasporas : an introduction / Robin Cohen. Description: 25th anniversary edition. | Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2022003183 (print) | LCCN 2022003184 (ebook) | ISBN 9781032188447 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032188454 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003256526 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Emigration and immigration—History. Classification: LCC JV6021 .C64 2022 (print) | LCC JV6021 (ebook) | DDC 325.2—dc23/eng/20220401 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022003183 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022003184 ISBN: 978-1-032-18844-7 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-032-18845-4 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-25652-6 (ebk) DOI: 10.4324/9781003256526 Typeset in Bembo by codeMantra To Selina The roads diverged and we took the ones less travelled. And that has made all the diference. (After Robert Frost) Contents List of fgures xiii List of tables xv Acknowledgements xvii Preface to the 25th Anniversary Edition xix 1 The study of diasporas: a guide 1 Simple defnitions of diaspora 1 A complex idea of diaspora: nine strands of a diasporic rope 2 A typology of diasporas 9 Diasporic actors and activism 16 Conclusion 19 Further reading 19 Questions to think about 20 Notes 20 References 20 2 Transcending the prototype: rethinking the Jewish diaspora 23 The Jewish diaspora as prototype 23 ‘Babylon’ as a site of oppression 24 ‘Babylon’ as a site of creativity 25 The Jewish diaspora and Christianity 26 The Jewish diaspora and Islam 29 Ashkenazi fates 32 Conclusion 36 Further reading 37 Questions to think about 37 Notes 37 References 38 3 Victim diasporas: Africans and Armenians 40 Origins of the African diaspora 41 The social construction of African homelands 43 Return and other aspects of the African diaspora 46