Identity, Integration and Involvement : A Study of Transnational Somali Diaspora Organizations in Norway and the People Involved in Them

Abstract

The overall objective of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of how the relationships between identity, integration and the institutional framework in the host country influence diasporas collective involvement in their home country. This will be done by studying people involved in transnational Somali diaspora organizations in Norway. 17 in deep interviewees were conducted of key persons in transnational Somali diaspora organizations in Norway. If one is to simplify the findings of this thesis and paint an overall picture of them, it would be that the key actors in organizations aiming for change in their home country are not those that are marginalized. Most of them are structurally integrated and have education and work in Norway. Others are socio-culturally integrated in the way that they have adapted to some of the values and the way of doing things in Norway. Change in the home country is the main goal of the organizations, and one wants to achieve this without weapons. While most of the contributions to the home country can be described as aiming to contribute to peace, a few of the activities might be seen as aiming to contribute to conflict. Contradictory to much of the literature on diasporas it is found that the ones involved in politics towards the host country, are the ones that are structurally and socio-culturally integrated in Norway. They are making use of what they have learned in Norway about democracy to fight peacefully for the independence of their home countries.