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What does diaspora mean?

What does diaspora mean?

Diaspora, (Greek: “Dispersion”) Hebrew Galut (Exile), the dispersion of Jews among the Gentiles after the Babylonian Exile or the aggregate of Jews or Jewish communities scattered “in exile” outside Palestine or present-day Israel.

What is the difference between diaspora and migration?

Diaspora and migration are two words between which a key difference can be identified. Diaspora refers to a population that shares a common heritage who is scattered in different parts of the world. On the other hand, migration refers to people moving to different areas in search of a settlement.

What makes a person diaspora?

From the Greek word meaning ‘to scatter,’ a diaspora is defined as a community of people who do not live in their country of origin, but maintain their heritage in a new land. For instance, Jewish people living outside the land of Israel constitute a well-known example of a diaspora.

Where does the word diaspora come from and what does it mean?

Diaspora Definition. The term diaspora comes from the Greek verb diaspeirō meaning “to scatter” or “to spread about.” As first used in Ancient Greece, diaspora referred to people of dominant countries who voluntarily emigrated from their homelands to colonize conquered countries.

What are the characteristics of a diaspora community?

Some diaspora communities maintain strong political ties with their homeland. Other qualities that may be typical of many diasporas are thoughts of return, keeping ties back home (country of origin) relationships with other communities in the diaspora, and lack of full integration into the host countries.

What are some examples of a forced Diaspora?

Forced diaspora often arises from traumatic events such as wars, imperialistic conquest, or slavery, or from natural disasters like famine or extended drought. As a result, the people of a forced diaspora typically share feelings of persecution, loss, and desire to return to their homeland.

How big is the diaspora in the world?

Over the last half-a-century, the diaspora population has more than tripled, from approximately 75 million to over 230 million according to Diaspora Alliance. About 3% of the world’s population live away from home. Interestingly, if migrants formed a single nation, it would be the 5th largest nation in the world.

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