Academic Centre
On November 9th at 11 AM associate professor Baiba Bela (LU - University of Latvia, Department of Sociology) will participate in the Seminar II of the Cycle “New Challenges of Transnational Mobilities” with her report "Political Dimension of Transnationalism: Diaspora Engagement in Public Diplomacy in Latvia". The event will be streamed online.
Today, diplomacy and international policymaking are primarily a ‘game of skill’ not simply a game of power in which size, power and geographical localization are crucial. In this context, the diaspora network can play an important role and allow policy makers to 'punch above their weight’ (Beeson and Higgott, 2014 in Stone & Douglas, 2018). Countries with limited financial and human resources (as Latvia) can strategically and purposefully increase their international influence and better defend their interests through public and networked diplomacy (Pinto, 2022).
Latvia regained independence in 1991, joined the EU in 2004 and is characterised by high population mobility – more than 10% of Latvian nationals live outside its borders. To date, the representation of Latvia's interests in international organisations, the shaping of the country's image and the strengthening of international influence have been implemented through classical instruments of foreign policy and diplomacy. In recent years, however, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (largely thanks to the initiatives and pressure of professionals living abroad) has decided to develop targeted and systemic cooperation with professionals working in international organisations in order to acquire the necessary knowledge and contacts to advance Latvia's interests and to perform foreign policy tasks more successfully, as well as to provide support for the international careers of Latvian nationals.
This paper will focus on Latvia’s diaspora professionals working in international organisations, on their experiences of cooperation with state institutions and networking, as well as their vision on how to implement such cooperation and to develop diaspora diplomacy. The study was carried out in the summer of 2022 by conducting a survey of Latvia’s diaspora professionals working in international organisations (N = 150), focus group discussions (6 discussions, 18 participants) and nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The results through light on the nature of the existing cooperation and spectrum of involved stakeholders, reflection on experiences and the vision.
November 9th
10:00 (España/Spain) / 11:00 (Latvija/Latvia/Letonia)
Language : English
Online event moderated by Thales Speroni (UAB)
Streaming: https://www.youtube.com/c/CERMIGRACIONS
Registration: https://forms.gle/y56cXeYzox33cAxS8
Organised by: CER-Migracions (UAB-UB), GEDIME (UAB) and GT CLACSO Migración Sur-Sur
