Susan Bergner
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bergnersusan.bsky.social
Susan Bergner
@bergnersusan.bsky.social
doctoral researcher @ SCRIPTS FU Berlin
research on African diasporas in International Relations
all views personal | she/her
This is all to say that colonial continuities might prevail in these very needed networks, thus it makes sense to be aware of such dynamics.
March 21, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Cited literature
Koinova (2017) Beyond Statist Paradigms: Sociospatial Positionality and Diaspora Mobilization in International Relations
Wilson (2017) Worlds beyond the political? Post-development approaches in practices of transnational solidarity activism
March 21, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Wilson also point to silencing indigenous histories of resistance + political organisation and reproducing binary narratives about the local activists on one side and development as a homogenous meta-narrative on the other side.
March 21, 2024 at 3:48 PM
🔍 Looking more closely at networks 🔍

At the same time, cooperation partners for diaspora actors might bring challenges. Wilson (2017) has found that international NGOs in their pursuit of transnational solidarity with local activists are reproducing colonial narratives about 'authentic natives'.
March 21, 2024 at 3:48 PM
In discussions at the summit, the proposition came up to elaborate this network by reaching out to foundations. Foundations, might thus be a partner with hitherto untapped potential for diaspora influence and visibility, at least in the transnational Afro-German diaspora context.
March 21, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Koinova (2017) names this condition ‘diaspora positionality in a transnational social field’ & points out that mobilisation & power of diaspora actors may vary according to the context. The 360 Labour Mobility Alliance is an example for a network of diaspora, other civil society + business actors.
March 21, 2024 at 3:46 PM
🕸 Working more strongly in networks 🕸

Research has already shed light on the fact that diaspora actors shouldn’t be solely seen as actors in between countries of origin and countries of residence because their networks are much more complex.
March 21, 2024 at 3:45 PM
The next post will be less abstract I promise, it will give us all some inspiration on how giving back can look like. Hope you enjoy this little academic series, as I do research with diaspora members, it is a vital question for my research.
March 14, 2024 at 10:34 AM
Used Literature
Cahill Sawyer (2014) Failing to Give Enough
Diver & Higgins (2014) Giving Back Through Collaborative Research
Gupta (2014) Reflections on Giving Back and Giving Thanks
March 14, 2024 at 10:34 AM
💡 Making research that impacts also communities by translating research findings or contributing t academic credibility of local knowledge or visibility of community issues without of course giving away their knowledge to third parties.
March 14, 2024 at 10:34 AM
🔄 Self-reflexivity is a key component. Find ways how you can self-reflect in a continuous manner.
March 14, 2024 at 10:34 AM
ℹ Be informed about your potential site of research including customs, dynamics and hierarchies to avoid obvious ways in which you might do harm or hurt people. It helps often to be as transparent as possible or necessary without overwhelming community members.
March 14, 2024 at 10:33 AM
💬 Continued dialogue between researchers research partners is key to clear up early misunderstandings for example. This goes hand in hand with investing time to build up respectful and ongoing relationships to establish a rapport and understanding.
March 14, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Es gab noch viele weitere spannende Diskussionen, ich freu mich, dass ich dabei sein konnte. Danke nochmal an das Team für die Organisation! Hier findet ihr weitere Infos zum Diaspora Summit: diasporasummit.org
March 7, 2024 at 8:49 AM
➡ Alles außer schwarz oder weiß: Es geht darum binäre Strukturen aufzubrechen, zu transformieren und diese nicht zu reproduzieren. Daher kann Dekolonialisierung jede Farbe außerhalb der schwarz-weiß Dichotomie annehmen.

In der Gruppenarbeit ging es um Dekolonialisierung und politische Teilhabe.
March 7, 2024 at 8:48 AM
➡ Weiß: wie ein weißes Blatt Papier, in denen Strukturen und Praktiken neu geschrieben werden können.

➡ Schwarz: Die Strukturen sind von weißen bestimmt, da wir von einer weißen Dominanz kommen, darf nun das schwarz mehr Raum einnehmen.
March 7, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Used Literature
Cahill Sawyer (2014) Failing to Give Enough
Diver & Higgins (2014) Giving Back Through Collaborative Research
Gupta (2014) Reflections on Giving Back and Giving Thanks
February 29, 2024 at 5:28 PM
Accounting for these limitations should make your decisions more informed and processes of giving back hopefully more meaningful. I understand if these reflections feel a little bit disappointing or frustrating but the next post in this series is about ways how to deal with it. So, stay with me :)
February 29, 2024 at 5:28 PM
🔄 It sounds basic but is nevertheless true, it’s context-specific. External factors (i.e. visa grants) might hinder to you to give back, be aware of overpromising.
🔨Power relations always play into processes of giving back – it’s about positionality, differences in resources, skills and knowledge.
February 29, 2024 at 5:28 PM
📊 You cannot measure giving back in a quantitative sense. There might be long-term consequences that you cannot account for. Moreover, it is impossible to return everything in exactly the same way.
February 29, 2024 at 5:28 PM
🏥 Threats to mental and emotional health should be considered the limit of giving back processes, it is about finding the right balance. Things can become challenging and this is okay, at the same time; researchers shouldn’t get a burn-out from my point of view.
February 29, 2024 at 5:27 PM