Diaspora Voices Explored: Introducing a Representative Claims Framework to Analyse the Tibetan Diaspora Network Online

Abstract

This article introduces a representative claims approach as a novel analytical framework to the field of diaspora politics. Supplemented with a network perspective, this approach offers a more nuanced understanding of the practices underpinning diasporic claims-making. Applying it to the empirical case of the Tibetan diaspora, which is confronted with an authoritarian China, the study draws on the internet as a pivotal tool for diasporas to foster connections, mobilize and articulate their claims. By exploring the online network on the basis of a hyperlink and web-content analysis, the article reveals the intertwined structure of the Tibetan diaspora online. A plethora of actors claim to speak on behalf of the voiceless people at home, advocating for the preservation of the unique Tibetan culture while also embracing global values to garner external support. This article contributes to the scholarly discussion on transnational engagement and representation in the digital age.