Using a Role Theory lens, this book investigates Tamil diaspora mass movements and interest groups as marginalised forces of domestic foreign policy influence. Until now Role Theory has not considered diaspora mass movements as collective action actors, nor looked at how marginalised diasporas influence elite foreign policy decision-making.
Matthew K. Godwin employs a comparative, micro-level decision-making narrative that looks incisively at decisions faced by the British and Canadian governments in 2009 and 2013 towards the Sri Lankan civil war and its aftermath. Through qualitative, elite-level interviews and content analysis of other primary source data, Godwin convincingly argues that when diaspora interest group elites are leveraging the power of mass movements in concert with credible partisan advocates, they can influence role contestation. However, international institutional constraints on role behaviour may stymie their preferred role performance, especially if states are indispensable to the institutions their behaviour may unravel. Ultimately, Godwin concludes that some states can't behave "badly," even when they want to.
This book will be of interest to students and researchers of lnternational Relations, Foreign Policy Analysis, Comparative Politics, Migration Studies and to non-government organisations who seek to influence governments.
Author(s): Matthew K. Godwin
Series: Role Theory and International Relations
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 231
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
1. Marginalised diasporas: A force in role contestation?
Surface-level similarities? Examining Tamil diaspora mobilisation in Canadian and British role contestation
Case selection
Organisation of the book
2. Diaspora role contestation in Canada and the UK: Theoretical and analytical frameworks
All the world’s a stage: Role theory, diasporas and foreign policy analysis
Diasporas and foreign policy analysis
Disaggregating agency in foreign policy analysis: Diasporas as role-makers in domestic role contestation
Role theory and agency: Mass movements as role-making foreign policy agents
Role theory and agency: Government and non-government elites as role-making foreign policy agents
Role theory and agency: Interaction at the intersection of mass movements, government elites and diaspora interest groups
Disaggregating institutions in foreign policy analysis: Domestic institutions, diaspora influence and international role performance
Role theory and institutions: Institutional factors and diaspora decision-making access
Role theory and institutions: Diaspora influence on domestic role conception and role performance
Role Theory and constraints on international role performance
Role Theory and role position ascription
Role Theory and “indispensable” states
Conclusion
3. A marginalised minority: The Sri Lankan civil war, the Tamil diaspora and transnational regimes of marginalisation
Defining the “Tamil diaspora”
The Tamil diaspora in Canada and the UK
The marginalization of the Tamil diaspora: Decolonisation and regimes of migration and securitisation
Theories of marginalisation
Colonial regimes of marginalisation and the
Sri Lankan civil war
Regimes of integration, settlement and
disempowering diasporas
Immigration, integration and settlement in Canada
Immigration, integration and settlement in the UK
Securitization: The taint of terror and the marginalisation of the Tamil diaspora
The LTTE abroad: Transnational conflict and the Tamil diaspora in Canada and the UK
The proscription of the LTTE and securitisation of the Tamil diaspora
Conclusion
4. From human security to enlightened self-interest?: Canadian and British foreign policymaking permeability and international roles
The porousness of foreign policymaking: Who’s “in” in Canadian and British role contestation
Models and means in foreign policy analysis
Multicultural foreign policy and diasporas as “active” agents in role contestation
Processes of Canadian foreign policymaking
Processes of British foreign policymaking
From Liberal interventionism to enlightened self-interest? Changing role conceptions for Canada and the UK
From Middle Power to disruptor? Recent changes in Canadian role conception
From intervener to convenor? Recent changes in British role conception
Middle Power revisited: Ascribing Canada’s role position
A major power by any other name? Ascribing Britain’s role position
Conclusion
5. Role contestation and the end of the Sri Lankan civil war: Protest, pressure and role performance
The bloody final throes of the Sri Lankan civil war: 2002–2009
The evolution of Tamil diaspora role-making: Overcoming the LTTE
Tamil diaspora interest group organisation in Canada: A centralised model
Tamil diaspora interest group organisation in the UK: A quick line to Labour
Role contestation and ending the war: Role-making in Canada and the UK
The Tamil diaspora and role-making in Canada: Early success followed by a faltering strategy
The Tamil diaspora and role-making in the UK: Labour inside advocates open the door
Vertical role contestation and influencing role conception and performance
Agency factors in role contestation
Institutional factors in role contestation
Diasporas and role contestation strategies
Role theoretical implications for disaggregating diasporas in vertical role contestation
Conclusion
6. Role contestation for transitional justice: Role constraints and the Commonwealth
Post-civil war Sri Lanka and the pursuit of justice
The evolution of Tamil diaspora role-making: The post-conflict changing landscape of Tamil diaspora organisations
Taking the fight abroad? Post-LTTE transnational diaspora organisations
Tamil diaspora role-making in Canada: Aligning with Conservative role conception
Tamil diaspora role-making in the UK: The founding of the British Tamil Conservatives
Role contestation and mobilising for boycott: Role-making in Canada and the UK
The Tamil diaspora and role-making in Canada: “Raising hell” at the Commonwealth
The Tamil diaspora and role-making in the UK: A bridge too far
Vertical role contestation and influencing role conception and performance
Agency factors in role contestation
Institutional factors in role contestation
Diasporas and role contestation strategies
Role theoretical implications for disaggregating diasporas in role contestation
Conclusion
7. Conclusion: Diasporas are a force in role contestation, so what’s next?
Theories of vertical role contestation: Disaggregating agents and institutions
Expanding on non-elite role-makers: Marginalised diasporas in role contestation
Diaspora role-makers and domestic and international institutions
Mass movements and elite-level role-making: 2009 and vertical role contestation to end the war
Elite-level role-making and mobilisation: 2013 and vertical role contestation for justice in Sri Lanka
Disaggregating diasporas in vertical role contestation: What now?
Appendix: Map of Sri Lanka 209
Index
