Bounded Transnationalism: Canada, Germany and the Politics of Diaspora

Sending states have facilitated transnationalism among their citizens abroad by tolerating dual citizenship, allowing out of country citizens to cast ballots in elections, and even allowing fellow co-nationals living abroad to run for office and represent diaspora interests in national legislatures.  These moves have justifiably drawn the attention of migration scholars interested in the expansion of citizenship and the role of diasporas in the domestic politics of sending and receiving countries.  Far less attention has been paid to states that have not followed this trend and, instead, sought to limit transnationalism.  Canada and Germany have both moved in this direction.  This paper explores how and why Canada and Germany have limited transnationalism and diaspora politics by amending their citizenship policies and (in the case of Canada) limiting voting rights for citizens abroad.    I argue that policy in Canada has been driven by suspicion of naturalized citizens abusing their Canadian citizenship.  In Germany, outcomes are reflective of the state’s effort to maintain limits on dual citizenship for prospective naturalization candidates — limits on dual citizenship for Germans abroad are maintained in the name of fairness.  In both cases, limits on opportunities for transnationalism among citizens abroad have been driven by suspicion of naturalized citizens (and members of other states’ diasporas) at home.