Comparing and theorizing state–diaspora relations

•Reviews and extends the theoretical underpinnings of research on state-diaspora relations.•Emphasizes the need for comparative research and new theoretical insights in the study of diaspora policies.•Proposes a research agenda that addresses the gaps in the literature on state-diaspora relations and identifies new areas for empirical and theoretical work.

This article reviews, synthesizes, and extends the theoretical underpinnings of existing research on state-diaspora relations, highlighting the fragmented, case-study oriented and a-theoretical nature of most existing work in this area, emphasizing the need to compare and theorize state-diaspora relations and suggesting topics and methods through which this can be done. First we describe the range of phenomena under examination and review the various strands of literature informing this area of research. From there we discuss the contribution of this special section of Political Geography and point the way towards a future research agenda that includes a comparative dimension, employs quantitative and qualitative methods, and engages theoretical debates in relation to policy diffusion, governance and norm formation.