Cultural Anthropologists of Leiden University and Development studies researchers of ISS-EUR have been awarded funding to explore how diaspora communities in the Netherlands respond to crises in their ancestral homelands, examining alternative forms of international aid beyond traditional remittances.
A multidisciplinary research team comprising PhD researchers Francesca Sofia Selano (Leiden University), Haya AlFarra and Gabriela Villacis (Erasmus University), along with Dr Radhika Gupta (Assistant Professor, Leiden University) and Zeynep Kasli (Assistant Professor, Erasmus University), has received the LDE Governance of Migration Diversity Seed Grant for their project "Beyond Remittances: Diasporic Aid and Care in times of crises."
Previous research on diasporas in the Netherlands has predominantly concentrated on their engagement in their new/adopted homes, specifically their economic contributions, integration, and social assimilation. This research addresses a critical gap in diaspora studies by examining how communities mobilize during crises in their countries of origin, particularly as traditional international aid structures undergo significant changes. With the recent dismantling of USAID, a 35% cut in EU aid budgets, and corresponding decreases in Dutch aid funding, international organizations are increasingly scaling down their operations and are seeking alternative partnerships, including with diaspora communities. The study will investigate the various forms of engagement diaspora communities undertake during crises and analyze the power dynamics involved in support provision.
This interdisciplinary collaboration between the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology represents a timely contribution to understanding evolving patterns of international assistance and community-led crisis response mechanisms.
