Study: Beyond Remittances, Public Diplomacy and Kosovo’s Diaspora
By: Kosovo Diaspora July 23, 2012
Study: Beyond Remittances, Public Diplomacy and Kosovo’s Diaspora
Authors: Behar Xharra and Martin Weahlisch
Foreign Policy Club
As a small and post-conflict country, Kosovo has narrowed capacities to reach out to the world. Restricted linkages to the outside make it difficult to influence the opinion and decision-making of other countries and their publics. Lacking diplomatic recognitions, suffering from a negative image, and still being in the process of developing its economy, Kosovo’s chances to win support and strengthen its international ties are limited. However, Kosovo’s foreign Public Diplomacy could benefit greatly from an untapped resource, which has not been fully utilized as a foreign policy tool yet: its diaspora.
The aim of this study is to highlight the role of Kosovo’s diaspora as a resource for the country’s Public Diplomacy.m The overview provided in this study gives insights into the challenges, status quo and options to engage Kosovo’s diaspora for enhancing the country’s image, which could ultimately reinforce the countries diplomatic and economic development.
This study argues that the role of Kosovo’s diaspora is in a critical moment of being primarily perceived as a provider of remittances and investments in Kosovo towards being acknowledged as a catalyst for international linkages and entry points for business abroad.
The study consists of three parts: the first chapter focuses on the status quo, looking at challenges, strengths, chances, and the changing role of Kosovo’s diaspora. The second part touches on positive examples and success stories of Kosovo’s diaspora abroad. Finally, the third part gives an overview about comparative examples, which includes the case studies of Israel, Armenia, Serbia, and Rwanda, offering intriguing lessons learnt and practical solutions. The conclusion part provides a reflection about entry points for future activities and next steps of strategizing a diaspora involvement within the country’s foreign policy.
Download the study here.
