Arab Migrants and Diaspora Relationships Survey

Migration scholars debate whether migration can induce or contribute to the democratization of sending countries through financial and social processes. Focusing on the effects of migration on individuals, I address this debate by asking two questions. First, do migrants transfer norms to people in their country of origin, and do those norms differ based on whether their country of residence is or is not a democracy? To answer these questions, I conduct a unique survey of Arab migrants around the world to examine their interactions with their families and their political and social beliefs as they relate to their country of origin. I find that there is a systematic difference in the attitudes and behaviors of migrants living in democracies—they are more likely to discuss politics with people in their country of origin and more supportive of democracy and liberal values than those living in autocratic countries. This survey data of Arab migrants around the world was collected online between Sept. 21-Dec. 30, 2022 by recruiting respondents through social media. It is a Computerized Self-administered Questionnaire (CSAQ). Funding was provided by the American Political Science Association Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant 2021-2022 and the University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Political Science.