The 2024/2025 winner of the CIPS Research Initiatives (CRI) competition is a research project titled “Conflict, Democratic Backsliding, and Diaspora Politics in Canada”. This project will involve the following CIPS researchers:

• Bantayehu Chanie, Project lead, with expertise in the Horn of Africa
• Philippe Frowd, co-applicant, with expertise in West Africa
• Christina Clark-Kazak, co-applicant, with expertise in diaspora politics in Canada

Project Description:

This research project examines diaspora groups in Canada and their links to transnational movements for peace and conflict, as well as democracy or democratic backsliding. It particularly focuses on diaspora groups originally from conflict-affected states. Accordingly, the research project deals with the following research questions: 

• How does diaspora politics in Canada impact peace and conflict, and democratic movements overseas, or vice versa? 
• How do diaspora groups organize themselves and influence their host governments to act toward conflict resolution, peace, and democratic transition in their country of origin?  
• What are the challenges and opportunities for diaspora groups to impact peace and democratic transition in their homeland? 

According to the 2021 census, the number of immigrants in Canada is 8,361,505, constituting 23% of the country’s population (Statistics Canada, 2024). These immigrant communities have, over time, organized and become influential diaspora groups (Olyan & Smith, 2011, p. 2). For many years, Canadian political parties have engaged in diaspora politics to secure votes (Gurzu, 2011). On the other hand, diaspora groups in Canada have increasingly shaped Canada’s foreign policy (Ibid). At the same time, they have  participated in activities that serve their homeland (Ramachandran & Crush, 2021, p. 156). However, the extent and impact of diaspora politics in Canada on countries experiencing conflict and democratic backsliding need further exploration.  

In recent years, a surge in political instability and violent intra- and inter-state conflicts has been witnessed across various parts of the world, including Sudan, DRC, Ethiopia, Gaza, Ukraine, and Yemen. Conflicts are often intertwined with democratic backsliding. The world has witnessed the deterioration of democratic records (Freedom House 2024, Arriola et al., 2023; Haggard & Kaufman, 2021). This development has affected a fifth of the world’s population (Freedom House 2024). 

The two issues—conflict and democratic backsliding—are often associated with internal actors (conflicting parties, national civil society groups, local media, etc.) and factors including elite power struggles, historical, institutional, and structural matters, and tribalism, among others. However, diaspora groups have increasingly become a decisive force with a potential impact on conflict and politics in their countries of origin. As digital media continues to grow and information becomes more democratized, political participation is no longer confined to sovereign territories more than ever in world history. In the 21st century, the diaspora can have a unique place in the politics of the homeland. First, it can reach and mobilize people in the home country for political causes through social media and other mediums. Additionally, it can serve as an intermediary, connecting those in the homeland who long for democracy or suffer from violent conflict with the host governments of the states where the diaspora resides. The diaspora can inform, lobby, and influence the host government’s foreign policy toward their people in conflict zones and those under dictatorships. Second, diaspora politics can also be a victim of the situation in the homeland. It can be divided along ethnic, religious, regional, or political lines. In this case, they may be contributing less to the democratic process and more as active participants in violence. This research project intends to explore these issues. 

References:

Arriola, L. R., Rakner, L., & Van de Walle, N. (Eds.). (2023). Democratic backsliding in Africa? Autocratization, resilience, and contention. Oxford University Press.

Gurzu, A. (2011). How diaspora politics are beginning to drive Canada’s foreign policy. https://carleton.ca/cifp/wp-content/uploads/1346.pdf

Freedom House. 2024. Freedom in the world 2024. https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/FIW_2024_DigitalBooklet.pdf 

Haggard, S., & Kaufman, R. (2021). The Anatomy of Democratic Backsliding. Journal of Democracy, 32(4), 27–41. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2021.0050

Olyan, H., & Smith, P. (2011). Diasporas: A Policy Review Prepared for the Privy Council Office.

Ramachandran, S., & Crush, J. (2021). Sustainable Development and Diaspora Engagement in Canada. In Y. Samy & H. Duncan (Eds.), International Affairs and Canadian Migration Policy (pp. 153–182). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46754-8_8

Statistics Canada. (2024). Immigration and ethnocultural diversity statistics. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/immigration_and_ethnocultural_diversity

First Virtual Workshop – October 21, 2025

The project “Conflict, Democratic Backsliding, and Diaspora Politics in Canada” held its first virtual workshop on October 21, 2025, bringing together 27 scholars and researchers from across Canada and abroad.

During the workshop, 18 abstracts were presented. Each participant introduced their topic, outlined their paper, and discussed the central arguments guiding their research. These presentations were followed by rich and engaging discussions within each session, fostering dialogue across diverse themes and geographic perspectives.

The workshop featured five parallel thematic sessions, organized under the following themes:

1. Diaspora Engagement in Democratic Contestation “at Home”
2. Diaspora Politics in “Host” Societies
3. Art, Media, and Language in Diaspora Mobilization
4. Resisting Democratic Backsliding from Abroad
5. Connection and Contestation Within Diaspora

Participants explored a range of compelling case studies, including the Sikh, Ukrainian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Rohingya, Kurdish, Palestinian, Israeli, Congolese, and Turkish diasporas in Canada. Each of these case studies were examined in light of the project’s central research questions, including:

• How does diaspora politics in Canada impact peace, conflict, and democratic movements overseas—and vice versa?
• How do diaspora groups organize themselves and influence host governments toward conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and democratic transition in their countries of origin?
• What are the main challenges and opportunities for diaspora groups seeking to advance peace and democracy in their homelands?

The virtual workshop provided a strong foundation for the project’s next phase. The upcoming in-person workshop, to be held in Ottawa in Spring 2026, will bring participants together to present full draft papers before an academic and policy audience, further deepening the dialogue on diaspora politics in Canada.