Diaspora Militancy and Homeland Security Dilemmas: Between Transnational Loyalty and State Sovereignty

Abstract

This article examines the complex and often contentious relationship between diaspora communities exhibiting militant tendencies and the homeland security strategies of their countries of origin. It explores how transnational affiliations, ideological mobilizations, and dual loyalties challenge traditional notions of state sovereignty, internal cohesion, and national security. Building on theories of transnationalism, hybrid citizenship, and extended security frameworks, the study investigates how certain diasporas such as the Tamil, Kurdish, and Chechen communities have been perceived not only as political actors in host societies but also as security threats or insurgent supporters by their states of origin. Using a comparative case study approach, the article analyzes the dual role of these diasporas: as external pressure groups lobbying for human rights and autonomy, and simultaneously, as entities implicated in funding, legitimizing, or facilitating armed resistance. It highlights the tension between host country protections (e.g., free expression and political asylum) and homeland security interests, raising critical questions about international cooperation in surveillance, intelligence sharing, and counter-militancy measures. The study argues that diaspora militancy occupies a liminal zone in international relations, where legal norms, sovereignty claims, and diasporic agency intersect in volatile configurations. Ultimately, the article proposes a set of normative and policy recommendations for states navigating this dilemma, advocating for multi-level governance models that balance national security imperatives with democratic principles and the rights of transnational citizens.