Transcript The Impact of Diaspora in the development of Cape verde

“O Papel da Diáspora
no Process0 de Desenvolvimento do país”
By
Prof.-Doutor Júlio C de Carvalho
Round of Applause
Greetings & Recognition
 Greetings
 Current and future sponsors and partners
 ACA-EUA Steering Committee
Special Recognition
 To CVG (Ministério das Comunidades)
for supporting 492 brothers in ST&P to
receive CV citizenship (according to Aug. 21, 2012
asemana.sapo.cv)
Who am I?
 My background
 Professionally….
 LPS, DFL & Director of SS
 Professor of Graduates studies
(Master and Post Master at CC)
 Professor of Doctoral Studies – UoP
Facts & Data
 Cape-Verdean migrants’ remittances…
 Slight diffrence between 2009 and 2010 –however, GDP (pib)
is based on the value and the growth of GDP (pib) itself. (Nota-se
mínima diferença entre 2009 e 2010, a contribuição no PIB está relacionada tanto com a desvalorização do dólar como
com o crescimento do próprio PIB.)
 i.e, the average exchange rate of dollar in 2009 was 85.55CVE
and in 2010 83.031 CVE and the GDP (pib) growth were 4% in
2009 and 5.6% in 2010. Por ex: a taxa de câmbio média do dólar foi de 85.55 em 2009 e
de 83.031 em 2010 enquanto que o PIB cresceu 4% em 2009 e 5.6% em 2dollar 010.
Facts & Data cont….
 Tolentino et all, “...aos olhos de alguns...o termo
remessa é incompleto e impreciso por não
abranger de forma clara toda a realidade.”
 Other sources claim remittances to be up to 34%
of GDP (PIB) – (informal money & product
donations)
Facts…
 Migrants Financial Contributions ensures a better
livelihood to many in CV
 We transfer other important non-financial
resources such as knowledge, skills, networks,
ideas and values
Facts, Assumptions, and Reality
 CV has a great emigration tradition which is
central to Cape Verdean identity and
(development)
 It is (intended) as a strategy to achieve personal,
family and social success
 It is estimated that between 199,644 (DRC, 2007) &
518,180 (IAPE, 1998) Cape Verdeans live abroad
 The popular thinking is that are more Cape
Verdeans live outside CV than in CV. But…
 There is no known data to support the claim
 In his speech at Boston University about “The
obstacles of leadership and prospects for future,”
October 17, 2007, the former president of CV
Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, said that it is
estimated that the number of Cape Verdeans abroad
is twice as large as the number of those in Cape
Verde. that…….
 Interesting!...but what kind of Cape Verdeans is he
talking about?
Cape Verdean Diaspora
 What is the definition of the Cape Verdean
Diaspora?
 Are we talking about people like me who left Cape
Verde to achieve personal, family and social
success? Or…
 My children who were born abroad? Or…
 The children of my children?
Definition Continued…
 The fourth and/or fifth generations because it is
the desire of the CVG & people of CV to count them
as Cape Verdeans?
 Who decides who is Cape Verdean of Diaspora?
 Based on what?
 Do they want to be counted as Cape Verdeans?
 What is the actual national policy on migration?
 As an migration scholar, it is not clear to me.
The Uncertain J0urney:
The Diasporic Effects on the Identity, Education, and Achievement of Cape Verdean Immigrants
 Qualitative – ethnographic study
 Dedicated to all Cape Verdean immigrants in the
United States & to all Americans who worked hard
to make their country (mine too) what it is today.
 This study investigates the role that migration has
played in the lives of the Cape Verdean people,
particularly their exodus to the northeastern
United States.
Study Question…
 To what degree do Cape Verdean immigrants
maintain and negotiate their cultural identity as
they progress through the process of
Americanization?
Uncertain Journey Continued…
 Eight participants who were interviewed
individually three times each over six months
and…
 Two focus groups of seven and six participants
respectively.
 In total (a) 21 participants, (b) 27 interviews (c)
several follow up (phone, email & f2f) questions
Individual Participants
Findings:
Four main themes emerge from this study
Influence of a capitalistic society on individuals’
decisions to pursue jobs instead of education
2. Lack of leadership in the local Cape Verdean
community (despite good efforts of our diplomatic missions-explain)
3. Understanding of the importance of education
despite minimal engagement with the
educational system
4. Belief that identity is situational and Cape
Verdeans exceptional ability for code-switching.
1.
Partial Recommendations
 Define (clearer) policies that deal with promoting
and understanding of departures in search of new
opportunities abroad
 Define who are Cape Verdeans (of Diaspora) and
homeland’s expectations
 Organize community forums and address crucial
concerns and create conditions that encourage
advancement
 Do something to prevent perception that CV
Diaspora is used for its remittances and/or
political support.
Recommendation Continued….
 Re-think our parliamentary representation to the
National Assembly to “conselhos das
comunidades”
 Cape Verdean government and leaders should
encourage immigrants to acquire U.S. citizenship
through the naturalization process so they can
avoid deportation and take advantage of
opportunities reserved for citizens.
 And..in the USA (as voters) we count and we can
lobby for CV
Diaspora engagement and its
implications on the homeland development
 In 2003 an edition of the World Bank’s Global
Financial Report, acknowledged…
 the positive contributions that migrants can bring
to the development of their homelands
 According to the most recent estimates, 214 million
people were international migrants in 2010
 This estimate accounts for over 3 per cent of the
world population.
Diaspora Engagement continued…
 Forecasts for 2012 indicates a remittance flow of
$377 billion to developing countries
 (BTW), migrant remittances are at least three
times larger than global investment in Overseas
Development Assistance
 We also transfer other important non-financial
resources such as knowledge, skills, networks,
ideas and values
Knowledge Management &
Diaspora contribution
 2012 Index of Economic Freedom indicates- Strong
Economic Performance as Cape Verde’s
commitment to reform, however…
 There is a need for CV to assess the existing
knowledge of the Cape Verdean Diaspora
 What relevant expertise resides/exists outside CV
and how can CV gain access to it?
 We need to trust each other & what is ours (major problem)
 EX: CV language in Massachusetts & the
courage/audacity of the CV “premier” is addressing
U.N. assembly in CV langauge & criticism he got
KM continued….

CV needs to identify, value and capture
EXPERTISE from its Diaspora
 Incorporate and capitalize migrants’
interdisciplinary best practices and know-how
 Be aware that knowledge can be formal/structured
or informal/unstructured
 CV diplomatic missions to U.S. (…our people, our
roots…).
Contribution….
 Nov. 2009 I participated in ENID1 (Primeiro Encontro
and presented
Knowledge Management for Sustainable Tourism
– (Criar sistemas de Gestão de conhecimentos de turismos sustentável entre micro e pequenas
empresas nativas) and it was published
 I was to come to UNI-CV for Faculty’s Evaluation
System
 I have suggested blended learning which allows
more opportunity and control cost
Nacional Sobre Investigação e Desenvolvimento)
Contribution/suggestion
 Approx. 3 years ago, 1(?) foreign institution was
collecting samples in CV
 Legislate IRB/Ethics committee designated to
approve, monitor data collection involving humans
 Institutionalize Academic Quality Review for over
(potentially) 10k monograph, thesis, dissertation
 Require digital publication—so people can have
access to these studies
final notes…
 Migrant departures split families and friends
 Many Cape Verdeans migrants return home to
work, start businesses, retire or deported.
 Some with very good accomplishments (Education,
professional expertise, assets, etc…).
 All of us must work together for a better
understanding of each other
 AND...........
Based on “Cântico da Liberdade”
... [Se] a esperança é do tamanho do mar
...Que nos abraça...
Entre estrelas e o atlântico
... E o homem a certeza...
Então...
(da Diáspora) imploramos que nos
deixem (tambem) cantar. Afinal, somos
irmãos (tambem).
OBRIGADO!
Reference
•Cape Verde : Migration profile (2010): retrieved on 8/25/12 from
http://www.iomdakar.org/profiles/content/migration-profile-cape-verde
•Carvalho, J. (2008): The Uncertain Journey: The Diasporic Effects on the Identity, Education,
and Achievement of Cape Verdean Immigrants. Cambridge College
•DeParle, J (2007). Border Crossings: In a World on the Move, a Tiny Land Strains to Cope
retrieved 0n 9/24/12 from
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F5081FF73A5B0C778EDDAF0894DF404482&fta
=y&incamp=archive:article_related
•Silver, H. (2011): The Cape Verdean diaspora: Retrieved from
http://greatcvadventure.blogspot.com/2011/06/cape-verdean-diaspora.html on 9/22/12
•Sinatti, G. (nd). From Global Migration to Local Development: Reflections on Diaspora
Engagement for Effective Development. Retrieved on 9/24/12 from
http://www.iss.nl/fileadmin/ASSETS/iss/Documents/DevISSues/sinatti_WEB.pdf
•Tolentino, N.; Rocha, C; & Tolentino, C. Tolentino, N.; Rocha, C; & Tolentino, C.(nd) : Retrieved
from on 9/22/12 from (http://www.voaportugues.com/content/a-38-2008-05-09-voa392244474/1256070.html)