Repatriation laws

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Repatriation laws have been created in many countries to enable diasporas to immigrate ("return") to their "kin-state". This is sometimes known as the exercise of the right of return. Repatriation laws give members of the diaspora the right to immigrate to their kinstate. Repatriation laws serve to maintain close ties between the state and its diaspora and gives preferential treatment to diaspora immigrants.

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[edit] States with Repatriation laws

The number of countries with repatriation laws has mushroomed since the end of Soviet communism and most independent nations that were once part of the communist domain in Europe have since legislated repatriation laws. Germany, Greece, Armenia, France, China, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Turkey and Israel also have longstanding repatriation legislation.

[edit] Common law repatriation

Many other countries such as Jordan (a de facto kinstate for Palestinians) and Sweden have (or have had) generous immigration policies with regard to the nation's Diaspora without having formally enacted repatriation laws. Such states can be described as practicing common law repatriation.

[edit] Criticism

Repatriation laws are generally not controversial. The exception to this is the law of Return in Israel.

[edit] External links

Democratic Norms, Diasporas, and Israel’s Law of Return by Alexander Yakobson and Amnon Rubinstein