R. RACZYŃSKI, Relations Among The State And The Diaspora In The Context Of The Diaspora Engagement Policy, in Governing for the Future: Interdisciplinary Perspectives for Sustainable World, ed. by Andrei Taranu, Bologna 2016, p. 41 - 48. Relations Among The State And The Diaspora In The Context Of The Diaspora Engagement Policy Raczyński R. 1 1 Pomeranian University in Słupsk (Poland) raczynski_rafal@wp.pl Abstract This article aims to present the ways in which contemporary states build relationships with their diasporas, and what consequences it brings for the classically understood concept of the nation state. The so- called diaspora engagement policy, increasingly popular, constitutes a challenge to the traditionally perceived state and contributes to the reconceptualization of this category (especially in the context of such attributes of statehood as sovereignty, territoriality, citizenship and loyalty). The article consists of three main parts. The first part presents the political, economic and socio - cultural potential of diasporas, which makes them significant actors in the process of shaping the contemporary international order. The second part focuses on the definition of the notion of diaspora engagement policy, its main assumptions and implementation methods (capacity building policies, extending rights and extracting obligations). The impact of the diaspora engagement policy on the classical concept of the state and its functioning is discussed in the last part of the article. It is emphasized here that the policy in question leads to relaxation of relationships between territoriality and identity (belonging) as well as sovereignty (authority). Keywords: diaspora engagement policy, diaspora, state, sovereignty, territoriality. 1 Introduction Human migration is one of the most significant factors shaping the present global order. In one of the most popular textbooks on migration Castles and Miller identified the 20th century as "the age of migration" [1]. There are signs, however, that in the future also the 21st century will be referred to as "the era of diasporas"(citing Rogers Brubaker [2]). People’s mobility these days is greater than ever before in the modern history. It can be confirmed by Facts & Figures on World Migration presented by International Organization for Migration (IOM): the estimated number of international migrants worldwide exceeds 232 million (if international migrants lived in one state, they would constitute the fifth most populous country in the world); migrants constitute 3.2 per cent of the global population; including internal and international migrations every seventh person in the world is a migrant; the estimated number of migrants in the countries of the EU in 2014 reached almost 34 million and the estimated number of refugees in the world was almost 20 million [3]. On the one hand, migration and migrants may be perceived as a threat. On the other one, nonetheless, immigrant communities often are in possession of valuable economic, socio-cultural and political capital. Generally, it can be said that diasporas can play a role of important agents of political influences and economic cooperation and development. In the recent years the potential of diasporas has been recognized by many countries, international organizations and agencies. Hence, many countries try today to implement the so-called diaspora engagement policy and establish various institutions responsible for creating and coordinating such a policy. These actions and the noticeable change in the approach of states to their citizens living abroad are significant components of so called "diaspora turn" in policy discourse and practice [4]. Countries take various initiatives of a symbolic, legal, institutional, cultural and economic character, trying to create or strengthen ties with citizens living abroad, so as to win their support for realization of national interests. Cooperation between the country of origin and its diaspora usually brings benefits to both parties. Nonetheless, as it will be indicated in the further part of the article, development of the diaspora engagement policy can be challenging for the traditionally perceived state and it may contribute to reconceptualization of the category in question (especially in the context of such attributes of statehood as sovereignty, territoriality, citizenship and loyalty). This, in turn, in practical terms may lead to some tensions and disputes, especially between the country of origin and the country of residence.