EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is the result of a desk-based research project undertaken during early 2009. The key research questions for this project are:
- What is the rationale for diaspora engagement, and what is the role of the Scottish Government?
- How can we define the groups who make up the Scottish diaspora?
- How should we decide where resources will maximise the effectiveness of diaspora engagement policy?
The purpose of this report is to organise and discuss some of the main issues and evidence as a starting point to inform the development of diaspora engagement policy. The paper recognises that any policy implications must be considered within the realities of the devolved policy parameters and current resource context in Scotland.
The Rationale for Diaspora Engagement
Diaspora sub-groups are identified in three key dimensions: their link to Scotland, their potential engagement role, and the strength of their connection to Scotland. The Scottish Government's rationale for involvement in facilitating this engagement is due to potential market failures: network effects, transaction costs, and externalities.
A Framework for Diaspora Engagement
This paper proposes a framework for evaluating diaspora engagement by group. It identifies eight dimensions of potential benefit from engagement: investment, transfers, trade, tourism, knowledge transfer, international influence, immigration and circular migration. Six dimensions of engagement challenge are outlined: identify, communicate, engage, rights, follow and policy interaction. The framework allows the organisation and collection of evidence along these dimensions for each diaspora group to inform engagement policy.
Engaging with the Scottish Diaspora
We then examine the literature on diaspora strategies and consider the use of three types of engagement strategy: Economic Impact, Cultural Profile and Brain Gain. We suggest areas for further research, and issues in the monitoring & evaluation of diaspora engagement policy.