Small is beautiful: the micro‐politics of transnational relationships between Ghanaian hometown associations and communities back home

Abstract

In this article we investigate why some hometowns in Ghana are more successful than others in mobilizing resources for community development projects from their hometown associations (HTAs) abroad. We analyse the praxis of HTA‐financed development by studying all actors involved in the process – HTAs and migrants abroad and local community leaders and their populations in Ghana. We find there is a relationship between the size of the community and the effectiveness of HTA mobilization. From a matched sample of five villages and towns in Ghana and their respective HTAs in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, we conclude that three important factors are at play in the relationship between size and effectiveness – the micro‐politics of relationships between migrant and local leaders; the institutions that exist at the village/town level to create incentives or sanctions for migrants; and the relationships of trust between the different actors involved.

Collective Transnational Power and its Limits: London-Based Nigerian Organisations, Development at ‘Home’ and the Importance of Local Agency and the ‘Internal Diaspora’

“…However, McIlwaine (2007McIlwaine ( : 1274 argues that this celebration of 'diasporic civil society' as 'a potential development saviour' has been based on rather limited knowledge. As Mazzucato and Kabki (2009) assert, there are few studies that combine a substantive focus on diaspora organisations with an empirical exploration of their sites of intervention at 'home'. Indeed, where diaspora organisations and their border-spanning activities are addressed, it tends to be within wider studies of migrant transnationalism in which they do not constitute the specific focus of research.…”

Circulating Practices: Migration and Translocal Development in Washington D.C. and Cochabamba, Bolivia

“…However, while efforts to link migration with a development agenda have a long history, there are still significant debates over the impact of migration on communities of origin [9]. Notably, scholars have shown that migrant-led development projects are highly variable and are always shaped by local economic, social, and political contexts [6,10].…”

“…There is also increasing recognition that local governments and migrant organizations are crucial to development outcomes [5,6]. In particular, hometown associations are viewed as an important source of remittances and knowledge of local conditions [7,8].…”

Integration Processes and Policies in Europe

“…Examples are migrant organizations that assist in repatriation of the deceased. Migrants often prefer to be buried in the country of origin, which is a costly and complex practice for families, as it requires extensive paperwork and knowledge of the system (Mazzucato and Kabki 2009 ). Lacroix ( 2010a ) describes how in France the organizations of Algerian Kabyle fulfi lled this role to build a bridge between the host society and the region of origin.…”

“…This may range from advocacy work to 5 See also Mazzucato and Kabki ( 2009 ) electoral participation and features strong affi liation with particular political parties and a questioning of governance systems. Several political parties in origin countries have established branch organizations in countries of destination to reach out to the diasporas.…”