Statelessness, Identity, and Transnational Migrations: The Intersection of the Rohingya Crisis and African Diaspora Experiences Under Global Migration Regimes

Paper Abstract: Statelessness, as both a legal and socio-political condition, continues to disrupt the lives of millions worldwide, depriving them of basic rights and recognition. The Rohingya crisis typifies one of the most urgent contemporary cases of statelessness, while African diaspora communities illustrate long-standing struggles with identity, exclusion, and belonging across borders. This research seeks to critically engage the intersection of statelessness, identity, and transnational migrations by comparing the experiences of the Rohingya and African Diasporas under global migration regimes. Through a comparative analysis, the research aims to uncover how political and migration policies, shaped by historical contexts, perpetuate exclusion and create statelessness across different regions. The research has three core questions to investigate: (1) what structural mechanisms within migration regimes manufacture statelessness? (2) What are the socio-cultural dimensions of identity reconstruction among stateless populations and diaspora communities? And (3) how effective are the existing international policies in addressing statelessness while promoting social inclusion across displaced populations? This study is significant, as it will attempt to bridge regional scholarship between Southeast Asia and Africa, offering new insights into statelessness as a global phenomenon. By addressing policy gaps in managing statelessness, it will advance both theoretical and practical discussions in international migration and human rights scholarship. The paper will adopts a comparative methodology, drawing on policy analysis, ethnographic narratives, and migration data to identify patterns and divergences in the Rohingya and African diaspora experiences. Findings from this study will contribute to policy reforms and advocacy efforts targeting more inclusive global migration frameworks.

Paper co-authored with: Bamidupe Aina, Bingham University, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria