American diaspora?
Communities of Americans abroad could have a new role to play during the Trump Regime
I have long experience with ethnic diasporas in the US and Europe - Hellenic, Jewish, Cypriot (both sides) and others. I have lived for decades with one foot in an active diaspora community - Greek-Americans - and have also worked with diaspora representatives professionally in Germany, Greece and Cyprus. Diasporas often remain deeply engaged with their home populations and seek to influence the policy of the countries in which they live. Their role can be controversial. Think of the Israel lobby or the Cuban-Americans in South Florida. But whether or not you like what they are doing, they are generally a force to be reckoned with.
I have also known American expat communities in many parts of the world. “American writers in interwar Paris” were probably the most famous group of US expats, or perhaps the Lincoln Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. In my experience, American expat life is usually much more mundane and even cozy. More garden club and “international school PTSA” than Algonquin Roundtable. They are not diaspora communities in the true sense of the word. They might be organized in clubs and various other groups, but rarely if ever with the aim of influencing the policy of countries in which they live toward the United States.
Could that change now? Could it already be changing?
You may have seen reports that comedian Rosie O’Donnell has relocated to Ireland, and that other celebrities are moving abroad. This kind of thing has happened before, often for life-style or taxation purposes. This time it has a political dimension, however, that was not ordinarily present in the recent past.
More important are three other waves of emigration from the US that are likely to build to significant proportions over the next several years. The first comprises young people in their prime professional years who became nomads during the COVID pandemic. Many of them have looked askance at, or even resisted, back-to-the-office directives from their employers. They are an inherently mobile population that leans left and can realistically seek to live abroad, away from Trump’s America, even if they retain a US employer.
The second wave consists of well-heeled Americans who are approaching retirement or have already retired. During the first Trump Administration, many of this cohort took a first look at relocating abroad. Amid the chaos of Trump 2.0, this group is returning to the matter with more serious intent, balancing the hits to their 401k’s and other assets against the prospect of a better life outside the U.S.
The third and most important wave are scientists and researchers. The Trump Regime, in the form of DOGE, Executive Orders, budget proposals, and agency “reorganization” initiatives, is slashing and burning large parts of the American scientific and academic establishments. The human capital embodied in the thousands of young scientists and researchers who are losing their jobs and their job-prospects in America is colossal, and represents a massive investment by American society and institutions. I would guess that it is in the trillions of dollars. These well-trained, extremely intelligent and highly motivated minds are now free agents, and will be looking outside the US for work. Other countries - France, Germany, even China - have noticed and are recruiting them to relocate. These countries are looking to gain a huge windfall of talent and potential.
Finally, perhaps a fourth wave will take shape if present trends continue. Refugees from America, political asylum seekers, persons who are persecuted for their political beliefs in the United States and seek refuge abroad. It will be a challenge for countries to authorize asylum-seekers from the US, and perhaps we are not there yet. But the idea does not seem far-fetched as the Trump Regime arrests a judge in Wisconsin, disappears green card holders from universities and launches “investigations” of its political opponents, calling for their prosecution.
Will these diverse waves of emigres from Trump’s America come together to form a diaspora in the familiar sense of the word - an organized community in a foreign setting that seeks to influence the policies of its host society and polity? I think so, at least in some places. Like maybe Mexico City (NTY Mexico Is Becoming A Beacon) or Paris. These emigres share, for the most part, a very critical view of the Trump Regime and, most probably, a desire to see the rule of law, democracy, tolerance and sanity return to American government. This will likely go well beyond forming chapters of Democrats Abroad (or even Republicans Abroad, for that matter) and participating in stateside elections.
What do these kinds of diasporas do?
They lobby host governments, international organizations and groups like Amnesty International and Greenpeace to develop policies and programs that address the diaspora’s “home” country. This might take the form of sanctions against the Trump Regime, or programs to support American political prisoners and other persecuted groups. Or simply pressing for greater emphasis on cooperation with individual US states, groups of states, or organizations. The possibilities are very broad.
They send money home to support causes in which they believe. This can range from openly helping to fund groups that stand up to the Trump Regime (like the ACLU) to clandestine support (a la the Irish-American diaspora and the IRA).
They keep the flame alive. This can happen in many, many ways. Sustaining a free and critical media might be one task. We might need a Radio Free America (on the internet), a latter-day Radio Liberty that reaches Americans (not Soviet citizens) with the news and views that the Trump Regime seeks to suppress. American emigres might form vibrant communities in universities and other intellectual institutions abroad, and in laboratories and research institutions, developing their gifts and pursuing their dreams to the benefit of their hosts while upholding a different, more genuine American ideal. They could give hope to those of us who remain here in the United States, and possibly - as has happened with other countries in the past - nurture American leaders for a new America once the Trump Regime ends.
Will it come to this? I don’t know. The future here is clouded with tremendous uncertainty, but the darkest cloud is an emerging authoritarianism that grows, recedes, then grows again. It is a day-by-day thing, but the outlook makes it hard to cultivate a sense of optimism. But just as the resistance of the outside world to the Trump Regime’s predatory and imperialist foreign policy gives me hope, so does the prospect of an organized American diaspora abroad that will keep the flame of American freedom alive in a time of darkness.
The light will not go out. I try to hope for more, but at least I hope for this.