The socio-political impact of homeland conflict on diasporas: the case of Tigrian diasporas in Germany and the Netherlands

The study investigates the impact of the Tigray war on the identity and social relations of the ethnic Tigrians living in Germany and The Netherlands within the broader Ethiopian Diaspora community. Employing a qualitative research approach the study examines how the conflict in the country of origin has reshaped the Diasporic identity of the ethnic Tigrians and how their ties to other Ethiopian Diaspora communities have also changed. Data was collected using semi-structured interview and were analyzed using qualitative method of data analysis. Snowball sampling technique were used to select participants of the interview. The Tigray war had a profound effect on their Diasporic identity of the ethnic Tigrians, according to the findings which caused many Tigrians to redefine themselves more exclusively along ethnic lines rather than as part of a unified Ethiopian Diaspora. The war has also caused in dwindling of social bonds, with Tigrians distancing themselves from Ethiopian communities not sharing the traumatic event in their country of origin and those who have supported the war. Such change in relationships and identity has also affected the Diaspora’s economic and social dynamics, underscoring the profound impact that home conflicts have on Diaspora communities abroad. By focusing on how home conflict affects the Diaspora identity and their inter-group relations, the study is relevant to the development studies, as it can contribute to understand how conflict, identity, and intergroup Diaspora relations intersect in ways that influence the social cohesion with in the Diaspora community and overall development of both the home and host nations.