Essay on Nationalism and Diasporas in the Middle East (ANT-432)

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between nationalism and diasporas within the context of the Middle East. It begins by highlighting the unique political landscape of the region, particularly the delayed development of statehood and its impact on national identity and citizenship. The essay then explores how conflict, migration, and the rise of diasporas, primarily from countries like Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, have shaped the region's political and social dynamics. It examines the challenges in defining the Middle East due to competing regional configurations and the West's portrayal of the region. The essay also analyzes the sociological features of diasporas, contrasting them with nationalistic models, and discusses the impact of displacement and armed conflict on the increasing number of emigrants from the Middle East, with a focus on countries like Italy, Spain, France, Britain, and Germany as major destinations. The essay concludes by referencing key academic sources that support the arguments presented.

Running head: NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST 1
NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST
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NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST 2
NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST
The Middle East is one of the most politically heterogeneous regions in the world. It is
characterized by divergent cultural, social and historic realities. On of the defining realities about
the Middle East is the inexistence of the State a political actor prior to the 20th Century (Hazbun
& Amanat, 2011). Additionally, migrants and refugees are scattered throughout the world
predominantly in the USA, MENA region and Europe. The formation of the Diasporas from the
Middle East is largely attributed to the migration movements from Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria and
Turkey .The focus of the essay will be on Nationalism and Diasporas in the Middle East.
The Lack of the of the existence of the state as apolitical actor up to the 20th Century is
largely the main reason for the incompleteness or delayed development of National identity and
citizenship in the Middle East (Gordon & Oxnevad, 2016). For this reason therefore, the idea of
the state came before the development of a national Idea in the Middle East.
Nationalism in the Middle East has also been affected by the existence of conflict in the
region. For this reason, it is largely difficult to accurately hint out at the development of
Institutions and Nationalistic concepts such as democracy and liberty in the region (Baser &
Halperin, 2019). These difficulties have also relatively made it difficult for the West to enforce
these Notions in the Middle East. In addition it is negatively portrayed by the west as a region of
extremism, violence and terrorism. Besides, the delayed development of nationalistic concepts
have also made it difficult to extensively define the region in a clear manner, with the term
middle East having emerged only recently in the Cold War period. This has also been
compounded by the existence of rival regional configurations (Dawisha, 2016).
Diasporas comprise of social formations that characterized by specific sociological
features. The existence of Diasporas contrasts with the existence of the dominant national unity.

NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST 3
The existence of Diasporas connotes the presence of unity among smaller groups largely brought
together by factors such as ethnicity and territorial boundaries. Therefore, Diasporas tend to
develop themselves within their local setting establishing meaningful conversations along spatial
and cultural boundaries. This contrasts with nationalistic models that are largely founded on
political and cultural assimilation to establish national homogeneity (Silverstein, 2015).
The aspect of Diaspora in the Middle East is attributed to factors such as the distress of
violent uprooting and long-distance belonging. Particular events throughout the decade have
events have increased displacement and mobility of people in the Middle East. These include
wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan which have led to massive flow of refugees in other
countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. The Impact of these developments has been
Massive increase in the number of Diasporas overseas (Silverstein, 2015). The number of
Emigrants from the Middle East has continued to rise currently estimated at around 54 million.
Out of this number majority of the migration has been necessitated by forced displacement and
armed conflict in the Middle East Region. Some of the countries with the largest number of
immigrants include Italy, Spain, France, Britain and Germany which currently tops the list in
terms of the number of immigrants (Baser & Halperin, 2019).

NATIONALISM AND DIASPORAS IN MIDDLE EAST 4
References
Baser, B., & Halperin, A. (2019). Diasporas from the Middle East: Displacement, Transnational
Identities and Homeland Politics.
Dawisha, A. (2016). Arab Nationalism in the Twentieth Century: From Triumph to Despair-New
Edition with a new chapter on the twenty-first-century Arab world. Princeton University
Press.
Gordon, L. A., & Oxnevad, I. (2016). Middle East politics for the new millennium: A
constructivist approach. Lexington Books.
Hazbun, W., & Amanat, A. (2011). The Middle East through the lens of critical geopolitics:
Globalization, terrorism, and the Iraq War.
Silverstein, P. A. (2015). Anthropologies of Middle Eastern Diasporas. A Companion to the
Anthropology of the Middle East, 282-315.