Start Date
4-30-2026 10:35 AM
End Date
4-30-2026 11:45 AM
Disciplines
History
Abstract
Beginning in the 1980s, Somalis have fled Somalia in order to escape persecution and political violence, find new economic opportunities, and achieve a better life. One major destination of these migrants is Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is now home to over 80,000 Somalis, making up 18% of Minneapolis’ population. Due to this sizable Somali enclave, Minneapolis and Somalia have created and maintained a transnational relationship. This paper examines that relationship, focusing on the causes of the Somali diaspora, evidence of transnational connections (such as remittances, cultural exchange, and political effects), and the challenges that threaten this tie. Understanding this relationship is crucial to understanding both Minneapolis and Somalia, as it demonstrates how migration can shape not only individual lives, but entire communities, across borders.
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Included in
From Mogadishu to Minneapolis: Transnational Political and Social Ties in the Somali Diaspora
Beginning in the 1980s, Somalis have fled Somalia in order to escape persecution and political violence, find new economic opportunities, and achieve a better life. One major destination of these migrants is Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is now home to over 80,000 Somalis, making up 18% of Minneapolis’ population. Due to this sizable Somali enclave, Minneapolis and Somalia have created and maintained a transnational relationship. This paper examines that relationship, focusing on the causes of the Somali diaspora, evidence of transnational connections (such as remittances, cultural exchange, and political effects), and the challenges that threaten this tie. Understanding this relationship is crucial to understanding both Minneapolis and Somalia, as it demonstrates how migration can shape not only individual lives, but entire communities, across borders.