The final phenomenon is not possible in communities that have a transnational forms of migration and socials networks. This consists of members of the diaspora returning to the home country and gaining political influence. The transnational ties allow the members of the diaspora influence in both New York City and the Caribbean. This is unique since many other immigrant groups are completely shut out from the political sphere of their home countries once they emigrate.

Jean Wyclef

Wyclef Jean is a very well known Haitian-American musician who left Haiti and moved to the United States at the age of 9. After the massive earthquake that shook Haiti in 2010, Jean attempted to run for president. His presidential bid was not a success and he was not allowed to run for the position.

As a member of the diaspora and the 1.5 generation, he had such close a transnational relationship to people in Haiti and in the United States that he would have had the support of a large amount of the Haitian and Haitian-American youth if allowed in the race. This transnational fame would have had an incredible impact if he would have been able to run. This is partly because people see him as representing both the Haitian and the Haitian abroad simultaneously, regardless of his lack of fluency in Creole and/or French, which eventually was his downfall in the election process. He proposed ideas like governing Haiti in English and Creole. A concept like this would appeal very much to the diaspora as a whole and raised his popularity both in the diaspora and Haiti.

by Nicolás Yehya

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