The waxing and waning of the political field in Burundi and its diaspora

Abstract

This paper argues that there is a mutual relationship between diaspora politics and political field inside Burundi, effectively constituting a transnational political field, and explores how this field expands and shrinks over time. The recent ending of the conflict in Burundi has meant that the point of gravity of the political field has shifted back to the territory of the nation-state. Being constituted around loss, exodus and exclusion, diaspora is closely linked to longing for home. But it also produces political subjectivities that revolve around exclusion from the polis at home and hence are about claiming rights to political inclusion and hence political citizenship. By exploring the shifting political field in Burundi and how this affects the diaspora, the paper sheds light on the relationship between political citizenship (as rights and as belonging) and exile and ultimately the nature of diaspora itself.

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