The Arab Spring Abroad: Diaspora Activism against Authoritarian Regimes

Description

The Arab Spring revolutions of 2011 sent shockwaves across the globe, mobilizing diaspora communities to organize forcefully against authoritarian regimes. Despite the important role that diasporas can play in influencing affairs in their countries of origin, little is known about when diaspora actors mobilize, how they intervene, or what makes them effective. This book addresses these questions, drawing on over 230 original interviews, fieldwork, and comparative analysis. Examining Libyan, Syrian, and Yemeni mobilization from the US and Great Britain before and during the revolutions, Dana M. Moss presents a new framework for understanding the transnational dynamics of contention and the social forces that either enable or suppress transnational activism. Cover Half-title Series information Title page Copyright information Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgments A Note on Transliteration List of Abbreviations Introduction 1.1 The Arab Spring Uprisings 1.2 The Arab Spring Abroad 1.3 The Role of Diaspora Movements in Contentious Politics 1.4 Emergent Puzzles from the Arab Spring Abroad 1.5 Investigating Libyan, Syrian, and Yemeni Activism from the United States and Britain 1.6 The Conditions Shaping Voice After Exit 1.7 Conclusion 1 Diaspora Activism and the Dynamics of Voice 1.1 The Transnational Turn in Mobilization and Migration Studies 1.2 Exit and Voice: Unpacked 1.3 Deterrents to Voice after Exit 1.3.1 Transnational Repression 1.3.2 Conflict Transmission 1.4 How Quotidian Disruptions Facilitate Voice 1.5 When Diaspora Movements Make a Difference 1.5.1 Resource Conversion 1.5.2 Geopolitical Support 1.6 Conclusion 2 Exit from Authoritarianism 2.1 Libya: From Colony to Nation 2.2 Exiting Gaddafi's Jamahiriyya 2.3 Libyan Socializing and Empowerment Initiatives 2.4 The Rise of the Assad Regime 2.5 Escape from the Cult of Assad 2.6 Syrian Socialization and Empowerment Organizing 2.7 The Two Yemens Become One 2.8 Yemeni Emigration History and Political Activism 2.9 Yemeni Socialization and Empowerment Organizing 2.10 Conclusion 3 Silenced and Split 3.1 Transnational Repression 3.1.1 Fear and Fragmentation 3.1.2 Muted Voice 3.1.3 Weak Threats from the Yemeni Regime Abroad 3.2 Conflict Transmission 3.2.1 Factionalism during Libya's Era of ''Reform'' 3.2.2 Syrian Divisions 3.2.3 Yemeni Divisions 3.3 Conclusion 4 Coming Out and Coming Together 4.1 The Breakdown (and Persistence) of Transnational Repression 4.1.1 The Libyan Case: The Implosion of Regime Control and the Diaspora's Coming Out 4.1.2 The Syrian Case: Persistent Fears of Transnational Repression and Guarded Advocacy 4.1.3 Syrians' Gradual Coming Out and Risk-Taking Strategies 4.1.4 The Yemeni Case: Regime Repression's Effect on Public Mobilization 4.2 The Breakdown (and Resurgence) of Conflict Transmission 4.2.1 The Libyan Revolution and Diaspora Solidarity 4.2.2 The Syrian Revolution and the Diaspora's Gradual Coming Together 4.2.3 The Resurgence of Conflict Transmission in the Syrian Diaspora 4.2.4 The Yemeni Revolution and the Resurgence of Conflict Transmission 4.2.5 Contestation over Preexisting Yemeni Groups and Organizations 4.3 Conclusion 5 Voice for Rebellion and Relief 5.1 Broadcasting 5.1.1 Disseminating Facts and Movement Claims 5.1.2 Holding Demonstrations and Protests 5.2 Representing 5.2.1 Lobbying outside Powers 5.2.2 Joining Revolutionary Groups and Cadres 5.3 Brokering 5.3.1 Brokering between Revolutionaries and Geopolitical Actors 5.3.2 Brokering between Allies on the Ground 5.4 Remitting 5.5 Volunteering on the Ground 5.6 Variation in Diaspora Interventions 5.7 Conclusion 6 Converting Resources to the Cause 6.1 The Conversion of Cross-Border Networks 6.1.1 The Conversion and Expansion of Libyans' and Syrians' Cross-Border Ties 6.1.2 The Decimation of Syrians' Network Ties over Time 6.1.3 Yemenis' Shortage of Cross-Border Ties to Arab Spring Participants 6.2 The Conversion of Capital: Fungible Resources, Material Aid, and Social Capital 6.2.1 Libyans' Capital Conversion: Sufficient over Time 6.2.2 Syrians' Capital Conversion: From Sufficient to Insufficient 6.2.3 From Resource Shortages to Professionalization 6.2.4 Yemeni Challenges to Converting Material and Fungible Aid to the Revolution 6.3 Conclusion 7 Gaining Geopolitical Support 7.1 Strong Geopolitical Support for the Libyan Revolution 7.2 From Varied to Weak Geopolitical Support for the Syrian Arab Spring 7.3 Weak Geopolitical Support for the Yemeni Revolution over Time 7.4 Conclusion Conclusion The Value of a Transnational Perspective of Contentious Politics Quotidian Disruptions beyond Revolution Broadening Our View of Diaspora and Immigrant Voice Methodological Appendix References Academic Sources, Research Reports, and Nonfiction Documentary Films Media Articles and Websites Index