Three Meanings of "Diaspora," Exemplified among South Asian Religions

• DOI: 10.1353/dsp.1997.0010
• Publication Date: 2012-09-01T17:22:30Z
• Authors: Steven Vertovec
• Keywords: 05 social sciences; 0506 political science

“Diaspora” is the term often used today to describe practically any population that is considered “deterritorialized” or “transnational”—that is, which has originated in a land other than that in which it currently resides, and whose social, economic, and political networks cross the borders of nation-states or, indeed, span the globe. To be sure, such populations are growing in prevalence, number, and self-awareness. Several are emerging as (or have historically long been) significant players in the construction of national narratives, regional alliances, or global political economies.