|
European Diasporas in Australia: Their Contribution to European Integration
CESAA Conference, Melbourne, Australia 28 April 2006 Harnessing the Power of Diasporas: Challenges and Opportunities for the Macedonian Diaspora in Australia and Globally by Ordan Andreevski Diasporas will be as big as the issues that worry them and the steps they take now to shape a preferred future. Abstract The positive and significant relationship between diasporas and development has been recognized by the World Bank, by the European Commission, by nation states like Australia, Ireland, Israel and Singapore, by prominent think tanks and academic researchers like the European Diaspora Research Network. Most recently, the Republic of Macedonia has announced the development of a National Strategy for the Diaspora under the auspices of its Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Australian Macedonian Diaspora has developed a concept paper for the establishment of a Global Institute for Macedonian Advancement. In keeping with the theme of the conference, this discussion paper explores strategies for harnessing the power of the Macedonian diaspora in Australia and globally to contribute to European integration and to help migrate the endangered Macedonian nation and the Macedonian State to a sustainable future. The paper examines the various dimensions of power associated with the Macedonian diaspora and how this under-utilized and under-researched resource might be used for positive social, economic and political advancement and integration of Macedonia in the European Union and in global civilisational improvement projects. The paper also explores the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the Macedonian diaspora in its mission to play a more active role as a change agent and builder of social capital in its host country and its former homeland and beyond. The presenter of this paper is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Management, University of Melbourne and was involved in writing the concept paper for the establishment of a world-centric diaspora driven think tank. Part 1: Brief History of Macedonian Diaspora in the 20th Century Macedonian emigration in the 20th Century is a product of economic, political and social crisis in the homeland and a response to the opportunities for a better life in new lands such as Australia. At the beginning of the 20th Century, Macedonia and its people found themselves under the crushing rule of the Ottoman Empire whose occupation of the Balkans dates back to late 14th century. The rebellion against Ottoman occupation and the creation of the first short-lived Republic in the Balkans in 1903 known as ‘Krushevska Republika’ resulted in brutal reprisals by the Ottomans and marked the start of new waves of emigration to Europe, the Americas and Australia. Decisive battles in the First World War were fought on Macedonian soil especially the ‘Thessalonki Front’ which resulted in substantial losses of life and property which again forced people to leave their ancestral lands.
The Great Depression in the 1930’s and the Second World War also played a key role in out migration. Similarly, the Civil War in Greece from 1946-1949 and the open borders under Tito’s Yugoslavia provided a fertile ground for emigration to the West. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Western European countries like Germany, Austria and France and countries like Canada and Australia had friendly immigration policies for recruiting skilled workers and their families. Australia has therefore attracted waves of Macedonian immigrants throughout the 20th century leading to the build-up of substantial Macedonian communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Perth and other industrial centres. Similarly, waves of Macedonian emigrants have settled all over Western Europe, the Mediterranean, in Israel and the Americas including the USA, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. It is important to note that constant out-migration is not sustainable and it is having a detrimental impact on Macedonia’s current and future development. To date no one knows exactly how many Macedonians left Macedonia in the 20th Century and how the diaspora has expanded and adjusted to their new host societies. This is an important research topic which needs to be addressed in the future. Important lessons can be learned from the attempts by the Irish to document, gauge, map and engage its diaspora. Part 2: The Power of European Diasporas in Australia European and other diasporas in Australia have made a major contribution to the economic and cultural development of this young nation. A useful framework for understanding and measuring the power of European diasporas in Australia to contribute to European integration, to act as agents of change and to contribute to civilisational improvement projects is the Matrix Model as used by the Australian Financial Review Magazine Power Panel (October 2001). This annual Survey seeks to assess who’s got power in Australia, who’s lost power and who’s waiting in the wings. Matrix Model for Mapping and Measuring the Power of Diasporas Diaspora X
| Overt power
| Covert power
| Cultural power
| Politics
| | | | Business
| | | | Financial
| | | | International affairs
| | | | Media
| | | | Public Administration
| | | | NGOs/Civil Society
| | | | Education/Research
| | | | Arts
| | | | Other
| | | |
First, power is segmented into Overt, Covert and Cultural dimensions. - Overt power is the type which is gained and maintained as a consequence of position or wealth. Power is vested with the position not the person.
- Covert power refers to the ability to exert behind the scenes influence by virtue of association or work with people who have overt power.
- Cultural power refers to people who have the ability to shape or influence discourse, community self-perceptions and set agendas.
These are not formal conceptual definitions of power. Second, power is analysed in the context of politics, business, financial services, international affairs, media, public administration, NGO’s, education and the Arts. By using the Matrix Model and more refined instruments, researchers and community leaders can start producing Diaspora Power Profiles and Diaspora Social and Political Network Analysis (Lin,1999) to begin assessing the extent to which European Diasporas in Australia are positioned to contribute to European Integration and other transnational projects. In the case of the Macedonian Diaspora in Australia, the various dimensions of power associated with this community have yet to be rigorously researched from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. This could be a good PhD Research topic. It is difficult to obtain funding from the ARC for PhD Diaspora Research Projects given that ‘diasporas’ at present are not classified as part of the national research priorities. Part 3: Strategies for Harnessing the Power of the Macedonian Diaspora in Australia and Globally In my view, diasporas in Australia and Australia’s diaspora in the world should be declared a ‘national strategic asset’ over and above the current policies of Multiculturalism at Federal and State level. Similarly, the Republic of Macedonia should formally recognize the strategic, economic and social capital of its diaspora and develop its Diaspora Strategy with a budget commensurate with the task and explore meaningful ways for engaging with diaspora. Funding should be made available so that this under-utilized and under-researched resource can be used for positive social, economic and political advancement of Australia and closer relations with the European Union and involvement in global civilisational improvement projects such as poverty elimination, development, debate on climate change, refugee flows etc. Similarly, funding should be made available by the Republic of Macedonia and the diaspora itself for joint strategic projects. Efforts must be made to identify and engage with leaders of stakeholder groups who are interested and capable of making a difference to the debate and status of Diasporas in Australia and globally. The issue of diasporas needs to be on the ‘radar screen’ of key stakeholders. Interest in Diasporas can be sustained by developing and implementing a Stakeholder Relations and Communication Plan that brings together scholars and research students with leaders from politics, business, philanthropists, public officials and the media to share their perspectives on diaspora related issues. The potential contribution of European Diasporas in Australia to European integration can not be positively exploited without Strategy and Action Plans backed up by budgets and partnerships. Research: It is first necessary for European Diaspora Research Network and others such as this to communicate the Diaspora Value Proposition to funding bodies, policy makers and the media based on facts. The use of an evidence based approach to the management of diaspora issues and policies can greatly facilitate the Diaspora research agenda. It is necessary to secure funding for Diaspora Professorships and for PhD students to devote their energies to building up profiles of the community using official census and other data that is available. The establishment of a Diaspora Research Foundation may be worth exploring as a means of collecting and directing research efforts and resources to the most pressing issues that can make a positive difference to closing the gap between where we are at and where we want to be. Community Capacity Building: It is necessary to build the capacity of the diasporas to plan and execute Community Development and Sustainability Strategies and Strategies for Migrating from ethno-centricity to regional (European) and World-centricity. Funding opportunities that are available from the Victorian Government for Community Capacity Building have yet to be accessed by the Australian Macedonian community. Communities that that have taken the time and effort to develop Strategic Plans which articulate their mission and key priorities have a better chance of being effective than those who are less organized. No community plans to fail but a few fail to plan. Fortunately there are many excellent examples of Strategic and Operational Plans that can be modified to the needs of communities. Macedonia’s accession into the EU can be facilitated by the diaspora who have the linguistic, cultural, political and social connection and skills. Integration into the EU is a key strategic priority for the Republic of Macedonia and its diaspora. It is with some regret that the Minister for Euro-Integration in Macedonia and the diaspora failed to establish programs and mechanisms that enable the two to work together on this important strategic project. This is where the idea of establishing a world-centric diaspora driven think tank comes into play. The Global Institute for Macedonian Advancement is about harnessing the power of the diaspora in Australia and around the world to act as an agent for sustainability, advocacy and innovation in consciousness. The work of the United Macedonian Diaspora organization and others like it in North America provide a platform for cooperation between Macedonians in Australia and those in America. The need for Benchmarking and Innovation
I am inspired by the work of the Italian and the Jewish community in Australia especially its emerging young leaders who are successfully taking over many of the functions performed by the older generations. In particular, I would like to mention Assoc. Prof. Danny Ben-Moshe who has been an inspiration by working not just with his own community but also helping other communities in Australia to start planning and moving forward. Benchmarking studies provide a key opportunity for communities and diasporas to measure their performance against other diasporas in Australia and globally. They allow diaspora organizations to identify areas of their operations that need to be improved and can highlight strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed to facilitate growth and sustainability. Using the internet to connect the diasporas.
The internet has been a blessing for NGOs, civil society groups and community groups to exchange knowledge, to communicate, to fundraise, to build coalitions and to campaign for their causes. There are many excellent websites which can serve as models for diasporas to use and adapt to their needs. The Australian diaspora in the USA and in the UK is using the internet for this purpose successfully (see Southern Cross Group) as are others (see Unione Italiane Nel Mondo). Government - Diaspora Partnerships
Building partnerships between Government and Diasporas is critical to harnessing the power of both parties. The challenge for the Australian Macedonian diaspora is to build meaningful partnerships with Australian Government departments on a local, state, national and international scale. Similarly, the Macedonian diaspora needs to work on building relations with the Government of Macedonia and the European Commission. The diaspora needs to feel that its contribution is required and important. Inviting the Macedonian diaspora from around the world to comment on Macedonia’s Strategy for Euro-Integration and to contribute to the shaping of the National Diaspora Strategy are essential steps for building bridges between the two sides. University and Diaspora Partnerships
Universities and their research networks can play a critical role in facilitating the development and contribution of European and other diasporas to national and international development issues. The importance of this partnership can not be overlooked as communities need the guidance and assistance of professional researchers to help them shape strategies for full engagement with the host society and their former homelands. In this context, I would like to congratulate Victoria University for its on-going interest in the Balkans and to all Universities who support the work of the Contemporary European Studies Association. Think tanks are another partner that diasporas can engage with in the search for solutions to pressing issues facing societies. The Centre for Social Innovation at Stanford University regularly publishes research which can be of value to diasporas. Diaspora organizations must try to bring themselves up to speed with what has been researched and use published research findings to improve the quality of their decision-making and advocacy capabilities. Diasporas can also learn the craft of how to influence public policy from think-tanks like the Brookings Institute, based in Washington D.C. Diasporas and NGOs/Civil Society
The influence of NGOs and civil society organizations on public and corporate policies has grown substantially in the last decade. In particular, I would like to mention the important role played by the Soros Foundation in Central and South Eastern Europe and similar bodies who have invested resources in many important empowerment and transformational change projects. Diasporas should take advantage of the opportunities for collaboration with NGOs and civil society groups in their quest to initiate reforms and improve the quality of life in their former homelands. Diasporas and the Progressive Corporate Sector
Diasporas can take advantage of the growing trend and popularity of Corporate Social Responsibility, Good Governance, Corporate Citizenship, Corporate Philanthropy and Business Ethics. Publications like Ethical Corporation can help Diasporas identify which Corporations they can work with for mutual advantage. With a carefully constructed value proposition and good public affairs, diasporas can develop alliances with enlightened corporations and work on collaborative projects (Black and Hohnen, 2006) Similarly, diasporas can start analyzing which corporate leaders can be attracted to community development causes. For example, the former President of Motorola and now CEO of Nortel Communications is of Macedonian origin and has worked with a President of the Republic of Macedonia on projects aimed at connecting the nation state with the global investment community. Diasporas and the Media
European diasporas in Australia can advance their agenda and communicate their message by understanding how to nurture relations with the media locally and in Europe. Given that politicians and policy makers are sensitive and responsive to what is being reported in the media, ideas and contributions can be made to the discourse surrounding the role of the diaspora and other issues. Mastering the art of Media Relations and writing effective Editorial and Opinion pieces is becoming an essential skill for all community leaders. Diasporas and Fundraising
Without diverse revenue streams and a deep pool of financial resources to draw upon, the future of diaspora organisations is not sustainable and their potential will remain underutilized. The decentralized model that currently exists in Australian Macedonian organisations lacks focus and is ineffective for addressing the critical challenges of our time. Lessons can be learned from diasporas who have invested strategically into real estate and other business and social ventures in support of their agenda. Funds can be raised from internal community sources by setting up charitable foundations and not-for profit social ventures such as Community Banks in association with say the Bendigo Bank. Funds can also be accessed from external sources such a local, state and federal government in Australia, from various foundations in Europe, from the EC, the USA and other sources. The challenge for Diaspora organisations is to position themselves as credible, professional and reputable entities capable of managing funds and budgets in a transparent and accountable way. Good governance and ethics must be the backbone of all diaspora organisations. Jerr Boschee’s latest book, Migrating from Innovation to Entrepreneurship: How Non profits are Moving Towards Sustainability and Self-sufficiency will be of interest to diaspora organisations. It shows how some of the most successful social innovators in the world are moving away from a dependency model of financing that relies almost entirely on charitable contributions and public sector subsidies towards sustainability and self-sufficiency. Financial sustainability can be attained through a combination of philanthropy, subsidies and earned revenue whereas self-sufficiency can be achieved through earned revenue alone. Diasporas and Ethical Influence
Diaspora organisation can be more effective if they learn to apply the science of Ethical Influence or Social Psychology to work in favor of community development (Cialdini, 2003). Influence is the rapidly expanding field of psychological inquiry devoted to discovering the principles that determine beliefs, create attitudes and move people from agreement to action. In other words, influence examines the process that causes humans and communities to change. Mastering the art of ethical influence can build commitment among key stakeholders to your cause. It is a way of persuading stakeholders to give more of their time and connections and to boost fundraising effectiveness. Learning from Giants like Mahatma Gandhi
If we want change we must become the change to which we aspire. Part 4: Challenges and opportunities facing the Australian Macedonian diaspora in its mission to play a more active and constructive role in its host country and its former homeland and the beyond. Standing still is not an option: We must embrace change, practice Strategic Foresight and become Social Innovators and Social Entrepreneurs! The current status quo of limited engagement or disengagement with stakeholders in Australia and in Europe is not in the interest of community sustainability and its reputation. The Australian Macedonians need to reconnect with one another, with stakeholders in Australia and globally. Unlocking the diaspora’s potential to affect social change by assisting humanity and integration in Australia and globally is the name of the game. Under the new Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Model, the diaspora needs leaders and organisations to become: Ambitious: prepared to tackle major social, economic and environmental issues;
Mission Driven: generating social capital and social value for the benefit of humanity.
Strategic: focus on opportunities to improve systems, create solutions and invent new approaches that create social capital and a preferred future.
Resourceful: exceptionally skilled at mustering and mobilizing human, financial and political resources.
Results oriented: producing measurable results that transform existing realities, open pathways for the marginalized and unlock the community’s potential to effect social change. It is incumbent upon the younger generations to again build social capital, to create sustainable community organisations and to take the lead in the creation of a collectively caring and innovative community. I would recommend to anyone interested in social capital to read Robert Putman’s Bowling Alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Also see Durlauf and Fanfchamps (2004) for a survey of research on social capital. The Macedonian diaspora in Australia should work on its image with a view to becoming trendy, progressive and pro-active. We must stop blaming others for our problems and accept responsibility for shaping the future. We must put our money where our mouth is and also look for external funding options. The community leaders should convene a Future Directions Forum and develop a clear Vision and Mission for the community followed by a Strategic and Operational Plan. The key strategic challenges and issues facing the diaspora in Australia should be identified, debated and isolated for action. In particular, a Theory of Change (see www.theoryofchange.org) or Roadmap needs to be developed which identifies the preconditions, pathways and interventions necessary for the diaspora to initiate and sustain positive change. Serious, comprehensive and innovative reform is needed if the Australian Macedonian diaspora wants to be relevant and influential locally, in Macedonia and in the Europe Union. The Government of Macedonia must also get serious about its diaspora and work with it in the development and implementation of meaningful engagement. Employing one public servant to handle all Diaspora Policy Affairs is not sufficient and sends the wrong signal to us. Like the Italian and Croatian diasporas who now have voting rights and representation in their respective Parliaments, so too should the Macedonian diaspora be given the right to vote and decide on strategic issues.
Re-appointing a Minister for Diaspora Affairs would also be a step in the right direction. Thank you. References Australian Financial Review magazine, Oct. 2001 ‘’Power 2001: Who’s got it, who’s lost it and who’s waiting in the wings..’’ Black, L., and Hohnen, P. Embrace Positive Power of Busines, The Age 6/4/06 Boschee, J. 2006 Migrating from Innovation to Entrepreneurship: How Non profits are Moving Towards Sustainability and Self-sufficiency Cialdini, R. 2003, The Power of Persuasion. Stanford Social Innovation Review; Summer 2003. Durlauf, S.N. and Fafchamps, M., 2004, Social Capital, National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 10485, May 04 (www.nber.org/papers/w10485) Lin, N., 1999 ‘Building a Network Theory of Social Capital’, Connections Vol. 22 (1): 28-51 Putnam, D.R., 1994, Bowling Alone: The collapse and revival of American community, Simon and Schuster, New York. www.uim.it Unione Italiane Nel Mondo www.theoryofchange.org www.skollfoundation.org ‘What is a Social Entrepreneur?’ |
