Unlikely Advocates of the Liberal Creed: Strategies of Framing in the Acehnese Diaspora in Sweden

Sammanfattning: Since the end of the Cold War, several stateless diasporas residing in Western countries have been involved in separatist conflicts in their homelands. The aim of this thesis is to explore whether these diasporas tend to utilize a universalistic creed of liberalism for particularistic purposes. To fulfill this purpose, I will test the applicability of Maria Koinova’s theory on how diasporas tend to frame particularistic goals in liberal discourses. Designed as a case study of a least likely case, this thesis examines the Acehnese diaspora in Sweden. Interviews with key diaspora elites are combined with an analysis of official statements and speeches. To determine how and to what extent the Acehnese diaspora in Sweden has used liberal discourses and procedures to pursue a separatist agenda, I employ three indicators of the liberal creed, i.e. references to democracy, human rights, and universalism. The empirical results indicate that Koinova’s theory correctly explains important aspects of the political engagement of the Acehnese diaspora in Sweden. Thus, these diaspora elites tend to frame their separatist goal in liberal discourses. I suggest that my results highlight the glocal character of diasporas as they are operating strategically in the intersection between global and local contexts.