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Executive Summary
The digital age has transformed the role of diasporas in homeland conflicts, reshaping how communities mobilize, influence narratives, and engage in political, humanitarian, and peacebuilding efforts. Once seen primarily as external actors providing remittances or lobbying from afar, diaspora communities now leverage social media, crowdfunding platforms, and encrypted networks to exert direct influence on conflict dynamics and international peacebuilding.
From the Ukrainian “IT Army” conducting coordinated cyberattacks, to Palestinian activists reshaping global discourse and raising millions online for humanitarian relief, to Syrian networks preserving digital evidence for transitional justice efforts – diasporas use technology to transcend borders and redefine transnational engagement. Yet these opportunities are coupled with significant risks, including misinformation, online harassment, transnational repression, and the ethical challenges of unregulated fundraising.
Policymakers, practitioners, and peacebuilders must recognize digital diasporas as powerful actors while ensuring safer, more inclusive frameworks for their engagement. Harnessing their influence responsibly offers new avenues for diplomacy, justice, and recovery – but requires navigating unprecedented challenges in this evolving digital landscape.
Introduction
The growing influence of diaspora communities in homeland conflict is an increasingly important dynamic for international policymakers grappling with the complex intersections of foreign policy, national security, and global stability and development. The role of diaspora communities in shaping political outcomes and influencing conflict dynamics has long been acknowledged, but the digital age has sparked a paradigm shift in how these communities engage politically. From Ukrainian cyberhackers shaping the trajectory of the conflict in their homeland, to Palestinian digital activists mobilizing protests internationally and reshaping public opinion, diasporas are entering a new phase of international relevance and influence. The implications of this for countries such as the United States, which is home to large, influential diaspora communities, cannot be understated – both at the levels of domestic politics and foreign policy.
Diasporas have traditionally been understood by academics and policymakers as external actors, providing financial remittances and lobbying politically from afar. However, with the rise of the internet and social media, diaspora communities have gained unprecedented access to global networks, real-time communication, and direct channels for transnational political engagement. The digital transformation has enabled diaspora actors to engage more actively in homeland conflict, shaping global public opinion, navigating and challenging entrenched political structures, and contributing in real-time to both war efforts and peacebuilding initiatives. This creates significant opportunities for governments, policymakers, peacebuilders and practitioners to leverage the influence of diasporas in support of mediation, recovery, development and diplomacy.
As digitally mobilized diasporas increasingly become a force in global politics, challenges lie not only in effectively harnessing their potential for positive change but also in mitigating the risks associated with their online mobilization. The spread of misinformation is one of the most prominent dangers, as unverified or biased narratives can quickly gain traction online and shape public opinion, sometimes with unintended consequences. Additionally, algorithms and anonymity on digital platforms can lead to the amplification of polarizing views, deepening political divisions within diaspora communities, in their homelands and internationally. These dynamics can complicate international peace efforts, hindering reconciliation and exacerbating communal tensions – both in the homeland and in host countries.
Furthermore, the rise of digital engagement has exposed members of diaspora communities – particularly women and politically vulnerable groups – to online harassment and cyberbullying, creating a hostile environment for some individuals engaging in political activism or advocating for peace. This echoes a broader trend, whereby diaspora activists have been subjected to transnational repression by authoritarian regimes and non-state actors targeting dissent abroad. As academics including Dana Moss have noted in their research, states often use digital surveillance, coordinated harassment campaigns, and even physical threats or attempted assassinations to silence critical voices across diasporas. This intensifies the risks for those engaging in online activism – particularly for those who are already vulnerable – and underscores the urgent need for protection mechanisms and international accountability frameworks.
Policy Recommendations
Policymakers and Peacebuilders
- Enhance digital literacy and responsibility: Policymakers and peacebuilders should invest in targeted digital literacy campaigns designed specifically for diaspora communities engaged in activism and transnational mobilization. These initiatives should go beyond generic training to include context-specific programming that addresses challenges such as misinformation in multiple languages, digital security threats, and platform-specific risks. Effective approaches should incorporate peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, collaboration across diaspora networks, and capacity building that draws on the lived experience of digital organizers. Tailoring the scope in this way enhances relevance, sustainability, and impact – especially where funding is limited.
- Establish inclusive and context-sensitive frameworks for digital diaspora engagement: Policymakers and peacebuilders should move beyond tokenistic engagement by creating inclusive, context-sensitive frameworks that enable diaspora communities to participate meaningfully in political and peacebuilding processes through digital platforms. As illustrated by critiques from Yemeni women peacebuilders, inclusion often remains extractive or symbolic. To address this, initiatives should prioritise co-designed processes, early and sustained involvement in agenda setting, and recognition – including compensation – for diaspora contributions. Digital tools should be used to broaden access, decentralise participation, and centre marginalised voices. Framing diaspora engagement as both a strategic and ethical imperative can help unlock their full potential as connectors, mediators, and mobilisers
- Foster safer digital environments through community-led safeguards and platform accountability: Rather than relying solely on top-down regulation, support diaspora communities to develop community-led moderation practices, reporting mechanisms, and peer support networks that mitigate online harassment and abuse – especially targeting women and marginalised groups. Policymakers and civil society should also advocate for greater transparency and accountability from tech platforms on how harmful content is addressed and how victims of abuse are supported, as well as partnering with trusted diaspora organisations to create culturally relevant digital safety resources and response systems.
Humanitarian and Development Practitioners
- Implement safeguards for digital fundraising: Humanitarian practitioners should develop guidelines for diaspora-led digital fundraising and project management, aimed at increasing transparency and accountability for funds raised.
- Strengthen coordination between diaspora and local actors: Support frameworks that enable diaspora communities to collaborate with local organizations to ensure that digital mobilization efforts are effectively channeled towards sustainable and ethically sound humanitarian projects.
- Promote ethical guidelines for content sharing: Encourage the use of ethical guidelines for digital content sharing, particularly in relation to vulnerable individuals in conflict zones, ensuring that their dignity and consent are upheld at all stages of the fundraising and advocacy process.
Diaspora Activists
- Foster unity and inclusivity in digital spaces: Diaspora activists should actively work towards creating inclusive digital platforms that counter online polarization, fostering cross-ideological dialogue and reconciliation rather than reinforcing divisions within communities.
- Champion online safety and mental health: Activists, particularly women and marginalized groups, should be empowered to speak out about the risks of cyber harassment and be provided with tools and resources to safeguard their digital presence. This includes advocating for policies that ensure a safer online environment for political activism.
- Build digital solidarity networks: Strengthen connections between diaspora communities through digital networks that facilitate solidarity campaigns, joint initiatives, and collective action, ensuring that diasporas can effectively influence global conversations around peace, justice, and development.
Adopting these strategies will enable the potential of digital diasporas to be realized in a way that is responsible, sustainable, and impactful, empowering diasporas to contribute to peacebuilding, recovery and development efforts globally.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not an official policy or position of New Lines Institute.